Trio held for beating auto driver to death for stealing batteries

The accused were identified as D Mahesh (32) alias Anil, his brother-in-law V Arunkumar (23) and G Sampath (30), a private bus driver, all hailing from Pattabiram. Investigation revealed that the trio attacked the deceased, P Murali (33) of Kovur near Mangadu, when they found him stealing batteries from their vehicles.

Murali was found dead in his autorickshaw off Outer Ring Road at Ellammanpet near Red Hills on October 6. There were no external injuries on his body. Based on a complaint filed by his sister Jothi, the police registered a case of suspicious death and sent the body to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital for post-mortemexamination.

As the autopsy report suggested that he was brutally beaten to death, the police altered the sections of the case and launched a hunt for the suspects with the help of CCTV footage taken from the nearby locality.

After preliminary investigation, the trio was secured. During interrogation, they admitted that they beat Murali as he stole the battery from their truck parked near Pattabiram. They claimed it was not their intention to murder him, said the police.

“As he fell unconscious, the trio panicked and drove the vehicle taking Murali’s body with them. They parked the vehicle near Red Hills before fleeing the spot,” said police. All three were remanded in judicial custody on Sunday.

Police added that Murali used to drive the auto during the day and steal batteries from heavy vehicles during the night. He had already been booked for similar cases in Poonamallee and Mangadu. Murali is married and have two children.