Madanapalle murders: Ex-students of couple hire lawyers for defence

 Madanapalle murders: Ex-students of couple hire lawyers for defence

TNN | Jan 31, 2021, 04.30 AM IST

Tirupati: A group of students taught by lecturer couple, Dr V Purushotham Naidu and his wife Padmaja who are accused in the murder of their daughters, have come forward to provide legal assistance to the couple. The students have hired the services of senior advocate PV Krishnamachari to defend the couple in the double murder case. The lawyer had previously represented the four accused in the rape and murder of a veterinary doctor near Hyderabad in December 2019.

On January 24, the couple had allegedly killed their daughters, Alekhya and Divya, believing that they would be resurrected in the Satya Yug. The couple are still said to be in a state of trance with jail authorities referring them to a mental health hospital for psychiatric treatment.

Advocate Rajini, who is part of Krishnamachari’s team, interacted with Dr Purushotham after obtaining special permission from jail authorities. She has now sought permission for an interaction with Padmaja. Speaking to reporters, Rajini said several old students approached Krishnamachari and requested him to represent the couple’s case.

“The couple have trained and shaped many students, who are now working as doctors, advocates, engineers and in many other professions. How can the couple, who shaped the future of many youngsters throughout their careers, destroy the very future of their own daughters? It has to be probed as to how the entire family was driven into a state of trance and by whom,” said Rajini.

Meanwhile, police ruled out financial gain motive behind the double murder. “Both Purushotham Naidu and Padmaja are wealthy and their net worth runs into several crores. With both their daughters dead and both parents behind the bars, who stands to benefit from their wealth now?”, Rajini sought to know.

The post-mortem report of the deceased is yet to come.