In a chilling case that has shaken the coastal city of Kakinada, two young men were arrested Sunday for the brutal murder of their friend, allegedly over his refusal to share intimate photographs and videos of women stored on his cellphone. The victim, Gandi Sridhar, 31, was attacked with a knife at his residence on September 1 and died on the spot.

  • Victim: Gandi Sridhar, 31, former ward volunteer
  • Accused: Palepu Vivek, 18, and Eluri Ramakrishna, 21
  • Weapon: Knife used in the attack
  • Date of murder: September 1, 2026
  • Arrest date: September 13, 2026

A Deadly Dispute Over Digital Content

Sridhar, who held an MBA degree and had worked as a Ward Volunteer between 2019 and 2024, lived with his mother after a short-lived marriage ended in divorce. According to Kakinada In-charge DSP M. Kishore Kumar, Sridhar had shown the intimate content to his friends, sparking a deadly plan.

The Extortion Scheme That Turned Fatal

The accused allegedly intended to obtain the photographs and videos, share them with the families of the women featured, and demand money. When Sridhar refused to hand over the data, the situation escalated violently. They hacked him to death and fled with his cellphone.

"The accused allegedly planned to obtain the photographs and videos from Sridhar and share them with the family members of the women featured in them and demand money from them," Mr. Kishore Kumar said.

Investigation and Arrests

Police recovered four cellphones, a pen drive, and the murder weapon from the accused. The case was registered based on a complaint from Sridhar's mother, Jayalakshmi. Both suspects were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody on Sunday.