Priest Gets Life Sentence in Medchal Temple Murder Case
A court sentenced a temple priest to life imprisonment for murdering a woman visitor for gold jewellery after hiding the body inside the sanctum for three days in Medchal Malkajgiri.
- The murder was committed for gold jewellery inside a temple.
- The body was hidden inside the sanctum for three days.
- The district court awarded life imprisonment to the priest.
A gruesome murder that stunned Medchal Malkajgiri district in 2022 reached its legal conclusion as the district court delivered a stern verdict against a temple priest found guilty of killing a woman devotee inside the shrine.
According to investigators the accused priest Murali Krishna developed severe financial troubles due to bad habits and mounting debts. In a desperate move he targeted a regular temple visitor Uma Devi who often arrived wearing gold ornaments.
On the evening of April 18 the priest allegedly lured the woman into the sanctum under the pretext of offering special prayers. With no devotees around he attacked her with an iron rod killing her on the spot. He later removed her jewellery and concealed the body inside the sanctum area.
The temple remained locked for three days while the victim was reported missing by her family. After foul smell began spreading the body was shifted and dumped near bushes behind the temple. Police grew suspicious after finding the woman footwear near the temple and noticing contradictions in the priest statements.
During interrogation the accused confessed to the crime leading to a detailed charge sheet. After hearing arguments the district court sentenced him to life imprisonment along with a monetary fine bringing closure to a case that deeply disturbed the local community.
