Friend of Chaithanya ‘Swetha’ Madhagani demands her husband hand himself in

The fugitive husband of slain Melbourne mum Chaithanya “Swetha” Madhagani is in hiding in India, where he owns multiple properties and has access to large amounts of money.

Esha Lakshana is fighting for justice for her murdered friend Chaithanya “Swetha” Madhagani. Picture: Nicki Connolly

The fugitive husband of slain Melbourne mum Chaithanya “Swetha” Madhagani is in hiding in India, where he owns multiple properties and has access to large amounts of money to fund his time on the run.

Friends of Ms Madhagani are demanding Ashok Raj Varikupalla hand himself in to Australian authorities after he last month confessed to killing Ms Madhagani.

But they also fear Mr Varikupalla’s and Ms Madhagani’s families may not be fully committed to seeing him face the Australian justice system.

Ms Madhagani’s friend Esha Lakshana said she was willing to fight for the slain mum.

Ms Lakshana, a former work colleague, said ex-husband Ashok Raj Varikupalla, who reportedly confessed to her alleged murder, has not been seen or heard from in weeks.

He is believed to be hiding in one of his many homes — including a triple-storey abode in Hyderabad — across the subcontinent and his phone is disconnected.

“We really want to fight for her justice,” an emotional Ms Lakshana told the Sunday Herald Sun.

Ashok Raj Varikupalla and Chaithanya “Swetha” Madhagani in 2017. Picture: Facebook

Friends of Ms Madhagani are demanding Ashok Raj Varikupalla return to Australia to face justice. Picture: Facebook

“But her family don’t want to get involved, they’re not that interested.

“What her husband did was totally wrong.

“He shouldn’t have become so emotional.”

Ms Lakshana said Mr Varikupalla, if he had committed the alleged murder, should have sought professional help in the days and hours before her death.

“Having a family argument and killing her … he could’ve called the police to get help,” she added.

“He could’ve filed a case with a lawyer to get a divorce.

“If he was an honest and trustworthy person, that’s what he should’ve done.”

Ms Madhagani’s friends last saw her alive on March 2, exactly a week before her body was found in the bush about 30km southwest of Geelong.

Mr Varikupalla, who has not been seen since he reportedly confessed to the killing in Hyderabad, has not been charged over her death.

He reportedly took their young son to India before handing the child over to Ms Madhagani’s family in Hyderabad.

Ms Madhagani’s body is returned to her family in India. Picture: Supplied

Police at the scene near Geelong where Ms Madhagani’s body was found. Picture: Mark Wilson

The Point Cook Ms Madhagani shared with her husband. Picture: Ian Currie

It is understood banks and financial institutions have restrained many of the couple’s joint assets until Ms Madhagani’s estate is finalised.

But it is also understood he used a jointly held account to purchase his plane tickets to flee overseas, before her death became known to authorities.

It is not known how much of his and Ms Madhagani’s money, if any, he was able to transfer overseas before the banks restrained the couple’s joint assets.

Victoria Police has been unable to restrain any assets solely in Mr Varikupalla’s name, because of loopholes in the state’s asset confiscation and freezing laws.

Ms Madhagani’s family in India run a successful clothing business, selling high-end jewellery and dresses.

They would ship products to her Point Cook home for her to sell at weekend market stalls around Melbourne.

Mr Varikupalla is no longer an Indian citizen, meaning he would be treated as a foreign national if Australia seeks his extradition.

Victoria Police elected not to comment on the status of the investigation.

It is understood Victorian detectives would need to travel to India to complete the investigation into Ms Madhagani’s death.

Any extradition proceedings would need to be approved by Commonwealth Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.