The police have arrested three people in connection with the murder mystery of a woman, M. Venkata Lakshmi and her mother, G. Anthoboyila, whose bodies were found in a cashew orchard on the inter-district borders of Eluru and West Godavari under Chebrolu police station limits on May 29.

The accused have been identified as Ponamala Sirisha, a relative of the victims; Karri Prasad alias Basu; and Aasu Durga, Eluru district Superintendent of Police K. Pratap Shiva Kishore told the media on Saturday.

Sirisha had developed a grudge against Venkata Lakshmi and Anthoboyila as they were allegedly spreading rumours about her character.

She had planned the murders and took the help of her paramour, Prasad, and friend Durga. They allegedly invited the victims for a birthday party arranged in the cashew orchards near Ananthapalli village on May 29.

They allegedly offered the victims liquor laced with poison and later smashed their heads with boulders, Eluru Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) D. Sravan Kumar said.

The Chebrolu police registered a case and took up the investigation.

The police also recovered some gold jewellery allegedly stolen from the victims, Jangareddygudem ASP Susmitha Ramanathan, who monitored the investigation, said.