Andhra Pradesh robbery case solved: Stolen booty of Rs 15.62 lakh recovered; 3 arrested

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district police have cracked the recent robbery case involving a welfare assistant and recovered Rs 15.62 lakh in stolen cash. Three accused have been arrested in connection with the case.The arrested persons were identified as Santosh Kumar Mahapatra (28), Vikas Kora (25), and Swapnil Durai (19) – all natives of Koraput district, Odisha.The robbery took place on 31 July, when Kattari Machebabu, a welfare assistant working at Bondapalle panchayat in Pedabayalu mandal, was travelling by bike after withdrawing the cash from the SBI branch in Pedabayalu. The money was meant for pension distribution among senior citizens in the Bondapalle panchayat.According to ASR district police chief Amit Bardar, the robbers intercepted Machebabu near Bangarumetta, under Munchingput police station limits, and threatened him with sharp weapons before fleeing with the cash.Following a complaint by the victim, Sub-Inspector J Ramakrishna of Munchingput police station registered a case. A special investigation team comprising personnel from Munchingput, Pedabayalu, and Araku Valley police stations was formed.

The team conducted searches in ASR district and neighbouring areas of Odisha. They found clues leading to the suspects, who were eventually caught on 2 August while they were sharing the stolen cash near Jolaput village in Munchingput mandal.During interrogation, the accused confessed that they had planned the robbery to make easy money quickly. The police recovered the full amount of Rs 15.62 lakh, and the accused were produced before court and sent to judicial custody.