Serial conman posing as MP’s son held for cheating hostel owner in Hyderabad

A man posing as a VIP and claiming to be the son of a Member of Parliament from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has been arrested by the KPHB police for cheating a women’s hostel owner in Hyderabad.

The accused, 29-year-old Vajila Venkateshwarlu, a native of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, who identified himself as Dr. Vikranth Reddy, was arrested near the JNTU traffic signal on August 4, 2025.

According to the police, the complainant — who runs Sitara Women’s PG Hostel opposite the JNTU bus stop in KPHB and also resides there — came into contact with the accused when he visited the hostel under the pretext of helping his cousin and juniors with accommodation.

Over time, he visited the premises on several occasions, even dining there on four separate days, gradually gaining the trust of the complainant.

During one of these interactions, he claimed to own a jewellery shop in Jubilee Hills and convinced her to hand over her gold chain, weighing approximately four tolas, for remodelling. Trusting him, she also paid him ₹55,000 through an online transaction and ₹45,000 in cash after he told her that additional gold was required to complete the design. However, shortly after taking the money and the chain, the accused became unreachable, and his phone was switched off.

Investigation revealed that he has a long history of criminal cases across several police stations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including Kavali, Santhapeta, Kakinada Port, Allur, and Jubilee Hills, among others. Offences booked against him range from theft and extortion to cheating and sexual assault. In an earlier instance, he also claimed that he was a neurosurgeon at a reputed hospital in Jubilee Hills. Further investigation is underway.