In a disturbing case from the outskirts of Ongole city, a 28-year-old man was allegedly murdered and his body set on fire late Friday night. The deceased was identified as Bodapati Raja, a native of Muktinuthalapadu village in Prakasam district. He worked as a car driver in Bengaluru and had recently returned home to visit family.

According to Ongole Taluk police, Raja had gone out for drinks with some locals on Friday night but never returned. Concerned, his family searched for him throughout the night. On Saturday morning, locals discovered his half-burnt body behind a cold storage facility near Throvagunta in a real estate layout.

Police quickly cordoned off the area and forensic teams examined the scene. Items found near the body helped identify the deceased as Raja. While no visible external injuries were found, investigators suspect he may have been murdered before being set on fire.

A crucial lead emerged when police learned Raja had made a phone call to a friend from the village while drinking. This has led investigators to suspect that some of the youths who accompanied him may be involved in the crime.

Circle Inspector Vijay Krishna confirmed that the case is being treated as a suspicious death, likely a homicide. “We are analysing call data records, last known location, and interrogating those who were last with him. We’re also verifying the drinking spot and tracking all movements,” he stated.