In a significant development, M.S. Murali, formerly the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) for Madanapalle, was apprehended at his home in Tirupati on Friday. This arrest followed a local court’s decision to deny his request for bail. Murali is facing serious accusations of intentionally setting fire to and destroying essential revenue records housed at the Madanapalle Sub-Collector’s office.
He had previously served as the RDO from October 2022 until February 2024. The alleged incident, which involved a substantial fire, took place on July 21, 2024, shortly after a change in the state government. This blaze resulted in the destruction of critical documents related to land transactions. After an exhaustive investigation, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) determined that the fire was not accidental but a deliberate act aimed at destroying evidence. With his bail now revoked, CID officials moved to take Murali into custody in Tirupati on Thursday.