The investigation into the murder of two women moneylenders in Vikarabad district has revealed that the accused couple had allegedly planned to kill several more lenders in a bid to wipe out debts amounting to ₹10 lakh to ₹12 lakh, police said.

The three accused, Kareema, her husband Rahman and their associate Nayeem, were arrested by Tandur Rural police on Sunday, May 17.

According to police, the accused had contacted at least five to six other persons and asked them to come to the farmhouse on the pretext of collecting money owed to them.

“Had they turned up at the farmhouse, they too would likely have been killed,” an officer from Tandur police said.

Investigators said the couple had borrowed money from multiple persons over a period of time and were under pressure to clear the dues. To avoid repayment, the couple allegedly conspired with Nayeem to eliminate the lenders.

Police said Abeda Begum, 60, was allegedly called to the farmhouse on March 30 after being told that the dues would be cleared. She was allegedly made to consume alcohol before being smothered to death.

Mahboobee, 65, was allegedly lured to the same location and killed in a similar manner on May 4.

The murders came to light after technical surveillance and mobile phone analysis helped police trace the movements of the victims. The accused were booked for murder and remanded to judicial custody.

Police said further investigation was underway to verify details of other persons allegedly contacted by the accused as part of the plot.