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Anantapur: A murder case that began with a burnt, unidentified body and almost no evidence has been solved by Andhra Pradesh Police after investigators followed an unexpected clue – a partially burnt papad packet found at the crime scene.

The investigation, supported by forensic analysis, CCTV footage and ATM records, led to the arrest of two men accused of killing the victim for money.

The case began on June 23, when a burnt body was discovered in an agricultural field near Pulakurthi village in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district.

With no eyewitnesses and little physical evidence, police launched a detailed investigation using scientific methods to establish the victim’s identity and trace those responsible.

While examining the crime scene, officers recovered several burnt items, including a Kannada newspaper, clothing, a sacred thread and a papad packet.

Investigators traced the papad packet’s manufacturer in Chennai before following its distribution network to Ballari in Karnataka.

Their enquiries revealed that Gururaju Rao, a deaf and mute papad seller, had been missing for several days. Police then identified the burnt body as his.

The investigation took another turn after police found that money had been withdrawn using the victim’s ATM card after his death.

CCTV footage from ATM kiosks, along with technical evidence and mobile phone records, helped investigators identify the suspects.

According to Anantapur Superintendent of Police P Jagadish, the accused allegedly believed the victim had saved a large amount of money through his papad business and temple-related work.

Police said they allegedly lured him to a secluded area, killed him, set his body on fire to hide his identity and escaped with his motorcycle, mobile phone and ATM card.

The two accused, identified as Basavaraju (31) and Kotresh (36) from Karnataka’s Ballari district, were arrested on July 8 near Obulapuram Cross in D Hirehal Mandal.

As both suspects are deaf and mute, police questioned them with the assistance of sign language experts.

Investigators also recovered the victim’s TVS XL moped, ATM card, mobile phone and bundles of papads during the operation.