Police in Andhra Pradesh, India have solved the murder of a 45-year-old woman whose charred body was discovered, tracing the crime to a local man who killed her and pawned her jewelry.
At a Glance
- Victim Mudimadugu Sridevi, 45, was found dead in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh
- Police determined she was strangled before her body was set on fire
- Suspect Guriginjakunta Shivaprasad Naidu was arrested for the killing
- Jewelry taken from the victim was pawned, helping police track him down
- Investigators believe financial motives drove the crime
The Discovery of a Burned Body
On August 23, 2025, police in Andhra Pradesh were alerted after a severely burned body was found in a rural area of Kadapa district. The victim was soon identified as Mudimadugu Sridevi, a 45-year-old resident of Proddatur. At first, the circumstances suggested a potential accident, but closer forensic review revealed evidence of strangulation prior to the fire. This shifted the case firmly into the category of homicide.
Investigators established that Sridevi had left home earlier that day to visit acquaintances but never returned. Family members reported her missing shortly before her remains were discovered. The brutal nature of the killing—manual strangulation followed by an attempt to burn the body—suggested the perpetrator sought to obscure evidence.
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Tracing the Killer Through Gold
The breakthrough came when police began tracking valuables missing from the victim. Investigators found that Sridevi’s gold jewelry had been pawned at a local shop shortly after her death. Surveillance records and documentation led police directly to Guriginjakunta Shivaprasad Naidu, a resident of the same district with a prior history of financial instability.
Upon interrogation, Naidu admitted to killing Sridevi. He reportedly lured her under false pretenses, strangled her, and then attempted to destroy evidence by setting the body on fire. The sale of her jewelry provided the critical link that confirmed his involvement.
Motive and Wider Implications
Police believe financial desperation was the primary motive behind the murder. Naidu’s immediate decision to pawn the stolen jewelry indicated both premeditation and urgent need for cash. Authorities are examining whether he may have been involved in other unsolved cases with similar patterns, though no direct connections have yet been established.
The murder has provoked concern in Kadapa district about the vulnerability of women in semi-rural communities, particularly when traveling alone. Local officials have urged residents to exercise caution and encouraged pawnshops to cooperate fully with law enforcement in verifying the source of gold sales.
The swift resolution of the case has been cited by Andhra Pradesh police as an example of the value of coordinated forensic analysis and community-level intelligence gathering. Yet for Sridevi’s family, the discovery offers little solace, as the shocking brutality of her final hours continues to reverberate.
Sources
Times of India
Hindustan Times
The Hindu
