Police identify accused in Macherla rape attempt case as victim’s acquaintance

In a significant breakthrough, police have identified the accused in the recent rape attempt case reported in Macherla town of Palnadu district. The police revealed that the accused is a known associate of the victim, not a stranger as initially claimed.

According to sources, the accused has been identified as Srinivas, a daily wage worker from Rajupalem mandal. The investigation revealed that he and the victim, an employee of the Panchayat Raj Department, first connected through Instagram and later developed a close acquaintance.

Earlier, it was alleged that an unidentified person trespassed into the victim’s house on the pretext of asking for a glass of water and attempted the crime after threatening her with a knife. However, the investigation later suggested a different sequence of events, indicating prior familiarity between the two.

Sources said that the accused had visited the victim’s residence and allegedly assaulted her. When police reached the spot, the victim was found with her hands and legs tied.

Palnadu district Superintendent of Police B. Krishna Rao told The Hindu on Tuesday (April 7, 2026) that police have credible leads on the accused and that efforts are underway to arrest him at the earliest.

Following the incident, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu convened a review meeting with senior officials and directed the police department to ensure justice for the victim and establish the truth.