Apsara Murder Case: Priest Sentenced To Life Imprisonment

The Rangareddy district court on Wednesday sentenced priest A. Venkat Sai Surya Krishna to life imprisonment in the sensational 2023 Apsara murder case. Nearly two years after the gruesome crime, the court convicted Krishna for brutally murdering his paramour, K. Apsara, and concealing her body in a water sump. The court also sentenced Krishna to an additional seven-year jail term for tampering with evidence and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh, of which Rs 9.70 lakh will be paid to Apsara’s family as compensation.

Krishna, a married man with two young daughters, used to work as a priest at the Bangaru Maisamma Kashi Vaidyanatheshwara Temple in Saroor Nagar Venkateshwara Colony. Apsara used to visit the temple frequently. A friendship developed between the two, which soon turned into an extramarital affair. After four years of a secret relationship, Apsara became pregnant with Krishna’s child.

When Apsara forced Krishna to marry her, fearing damage to his reputation, the priest hatched a plan to eliminate her. He planned a trip to Coimbatore with Apsara in a car. On the fateful night, Krishna stopped the car at a secluded place in Rallaguda, near Shamshabad. He then strangled her with a cloth and struck her head with a sharp weapon, causing her death instantly. Krishna then returned home with Apsara’s body, hid it in a water sump, and covered it with cement. He was quickly apprehended by the police during their investigation into Apsara’s disappearance.