A 35-year-old Indian Navy employee was arrested Monday on charges of killing a 31-year-old woman, dismembering her body, storing parts of her torso in a freezer in his apartment and burning the rest to destroy evidence in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, police said.
According to police, the incident took place on Sunday in Gajuwaka area of Visakhapatnam and came to light on Monday morning when the accused surrendered.
The deceased, identified as Pulipally Monika, is a bank employee in Visakhapatnam, while accused Chintada Ravindra works as a technician in the Indian Navy at INS Dega.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Gajuwaka V Srinivasa Rao told reporters that the two had been in contact since 2021 after meeting through a dating app. “The accused continued his relationship with Monica even after his marriage in 2024, and resumed contact when his wife went to her parents’ home to give birth a month ago. However, differences soon arose between the two, after which Ravindra hatched a conspiracy to kill Monica.”
He added that at around 12:30 pm on Sunday, Ravindra called Monica to his apartment, where they reportedly got into a heated argument and Ravindra allegedly killed her by forcefully covering her nose and mouth. “After killing her, Ravindra allegedly tried to destroy all traces of the crime. He dismembered the body by cutting off the head, hands and legs with a knife. He wrapped some parts of the body in polythene bags and hid them in his refrigerator. He then packed the legs in a trolley bag and put the head and hands in another bag.
“Ravindra purchased petrol in a plastic container and traveled to a deserted area near Dharapalem, where he burnt the victim’s head and hands to erase the evidence,” the police said, adding that the accused also planned to dispose of the remaining parts hidden in the refrigerator and suitcase as well, but could not decide how to dispose of them. “He eventually left them at the apartment and surrendered before Gajuwaka police inspector on Monday morning.”
Based on the complaint filed by the victim’s father, the police registered a case under Sections 103(1) and 238(A) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The association said, “The accused will be brought before the local court to be placed in pretrial detention.”
