Former Andhra MLA gets life sentence in murder case

Vijayawada, May 24 : A court in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday sentenced a former legislator and 15 others to life imprisonment in a murder case.

Ankapalle Sessions Court in Visakhapatnam district handed down the sentence in a case relating to murder of a fisherman in 2007.

Chengala Venkat Rao, the former legislator from Payakaraopet in Visakhapatnam district and others were convicted for the killing of Poosala Konda in the clashes between two rival groups in Bangarammapet village.

The court also awarded two years imprisonment to five women in the case.

The clash was over setting up of Beach Minerals Company (BMC) plant. Venkat Rao, who was then a member of state assembly from Payakaraopet constituency, had held a meeting with group opposing the plant. During the meeting a clash broke out between the two groups.

Rao was elected as member of assembly on Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ticket in the past. In 2014 he contested as YSR Congress Party candidate but was defeated.