Four arrested in CPI (M) leader Samineni Rama Rao’s murder case in Khammam - The HinduPublished - October 29, 2026 09:37 pm IST - KHAMMAMKhammam Police Commissioner Sunil Dutt inspecting the weapons seized from the accused allegedly involved in the murder of CPI(M) leader Samineni Rama Rao, in Khammam, on Thursday.Nearly a year after the gruesome murder of CPI(M) veteran leader and former sarpanch of Patharlapadu village, Samineni Rama Rao, 72, police arrested four men from Teldarupalli village in Khammam district on Thursday.According to the police, the motive behind the murder remains unclear and further investigation is under way.Over the past year, the incident sparked widespread outrage and protests by CPI(M) in Khammam over what the party described as a delay in apprehending the accused.Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Khammam on Thursday evening, Police Commissioner Sunil Dutt said a detailed investigation, based on physical and technical evidence, had led to the arrest of the four accused.Veteran CPI (M) leader Samineni Rama Rao. | Photo Credit: File photoThe arrested men were identified as Bodapatla Srinivasa Rao, 34, a mason, Nukala Lingaiah, 43, a farm worker, Mallarapu Lakshmaiah, 24, and Karlapudi Uday Kumar, 39 - both painters. All four are residents of Teldarupalli.Mr. Dutt said the police had conducted an extensive technical investigation to identify the accused. During the investigation, they obtained court permission to conduct polygraph examinations on 24 persons whose names had emerged during the investigation, including those identified on the basis of complaint and information provided by witnesses.Of those summoned, six suspects voluntarily consented to undergo the examinations. The tests were conducted in January, 2026, at the Forensic Laboratory in Bengaluru, the Commissioner said.The reports were assessed alongside other evidence collected during the investigation and yielded relevant leads, he added.To further strengthen the investigation, assistance was sought from experts of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.A six-member expert team visited Khammam and conducted a forensic analysis. The findings were examined in conjunction with other evidence gathered in the case, Mr Dutt said.Published - October 29, 2026 09:37 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }