Five Sentenced to Death in 2015 Chittoor Double Murder of Former Mayor Anuradha and Husband Mohan

Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 2025 : In a landmark judgment, a Chittoor court on Friday sentenced five convicts to death in the high-profile 2015 double murder case of former Chittoor Mayor Katari Anuradha and her husband Katari Mohan. The verdict was delivered by XI Additional District and Sessions Judge N. Srinivasa Rao, bringing closure to a case that had shocked the state nearly a decade ago.

The five convicts — Sriram Chandra Sekhar alias Chintu, Venkatachalapathi, Jaya Prakash Reddy, Manjunath, and Venkatesh — were pronounced guilty last week and were awarded the death penalty on Friday. Their sentencing marks one of the rare instances of capital punishment being imposed in a political double murder case in Andhra Pradesh.

A Brutal Daylight Attack

The crime took place on November 17, 2015, when an armed gang stormed the Chittoor Municipal Corporation office. Anuradha was shot dead inside her chamber, while Mohan was chased down and stabbed multiple times as he attempted to escape. The shocking brutality of the attack, carried out in broad daylight inside a government office, triggered widespread public outrage and intense political debate.

The court was initially scheduled to pronounce the quantum of punishment on Thursday, but the decision was deferred due to procedural formalities. On Friday, the convicts were brought to court under heavy police protection, with a three-tier security cordon around the premises owing to the sensitive and high-profile nature of the case.

Long Trial and Multiple Accused

The case originally named 23 accused. One accused, Kasaram Ramesh, was discharged, while another, S. Srinivasa Chary, died during the course of the trial. Of the remaining 21 accused, only five were convicted. The court acquitted 16 others, who were charged with sheltering the killers and providing logistical support, citing insufficient evidence.

During the lengthy trial, the prosecution examined 122 witnesses, submitted extensive forensic evidence, and produced multiple testimonies to establish the involvement of the five key conspirators and assailants.

Motive Rooted in Family, Financial, and Political Disputes

Investigations revealed that the prime accused, Sriram Chandra Sekhar alias Chintu, is the nephew of deceased Katari Mohan, who served as vice-president of the Telugu Desam Party’s Chittoor district unit. Deep-seated personal, financial, and political disputes between Mohan and his nephew were found to be the driving motive behind the gruesome murders.

Two of the five convicts had remained in judicial custody since their arrest, while the other three were out on bail before their conviction.

The death sentences are expected to be reviewed by the High Court, as required under Indian law, but for now, the verdict marks a significant moment in one of the most shocking political murder cases in recent Andhra Pradesh history.