Image used for representative purpose only

HYDERABAD: A lie detector test played a crucial role in solving the murder of 55-year-old Ankam Laxminarayana in Jagtial district.
Police arrested his son, Ankam Sai Kumar, and daughter-in-law, Ankam Aruna, after their involvement was confirmed. The duo was remanded to judicial custody on April 2.
The case dates back to June 24, 2024, when the charred remains of a man were found on the outskirts of Beerpur village. The then panchayat secretary alerted the police, who registered a case and began their investigation.
Initially, police suspected that the deceased was Ankam Laxminarayana from Narsimlupalli village. However, when they called his son and daughter-in-law for identification, the couple denied that the body belonged to him and refused to claim it. This raised suspicions among investigators.
To confirm the victim’s identity, police sent bone samples to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Hyderabad. The results scientifically established that the charred remains belonged to Laxminarayana. Despite this evidence, Sai Kumar and Aruna continued to deny any connection.
With growing doubts about their involvement, police subjected the couple to a polygraph test at the FSL. The results indicated deception, prompting officers to confront them with the forensic findings. Faced with irrefutable evidence, the accused finally confessed to the crime.
According to their statement, they doused Laxminarayana with petrol and set him ablaze. Their motive was frustration over his daily drunken behaviour, which was causing distress at home.