In a landmark decision that has captivated public attention for a decade, the IX Additional District and Sessions Court in Chittoor has delivered a momentous verdict. On Friday, October 31, 2025, five individuals were handed the death penalty for their involvement in the heinous double murder of former Chittoor Mayor Katari Anuradha and her husband, Katari Mohan.
The court meticulously examined the evidence and ultimately found Chandrasekhar, known as Chintu (A1); Venkata Chalapathi, also known as Mulabagilu Venkatesh (A2); Jayaprakash Reddy (A3); Manjunath (A4); and Venkatesh, alias Gangannapalli Venkatesh (A5), guilty of both murder and criminal conspiracy. This conviction led to their sentencing to capital punishment.
The brutal killing, which transpired inside the Chittoor Municipal Corporation office in November 2015, sent ripples of shock and outrage throughout the state. The couple, Anuradha and Mohan, were ambushed in broad daylight by a group believed to have been hired due to deep-seated political and personal rivalries.
Chittoor urban police diligently pursued the case, recording statements from 57 witnesses and ultimately filing a charge sheet against a total of 27 accused individuals. Earlier in the month, the court had acquitted 22 other defendants. This long-awaited judgment finally brings a resolution to one of the district’s most high-profile and disturbing murder cases, providing a sense of closure after ten years.