Inter-State gang busted, 12, including two police officers, arrested

KHAMMAM

The Sattupalli police have arrested 12 members of an inter-State gang, including two cops, for allegedly robbing gullible persons by collecting hefty sums on the pretext of giving them double the amount, ultimately cheating them with dummy currency notes.

Telangana Special Police (TGSP) 15^th Batallion Reserve Sub-Inspector Bera Keshava Rao, 51, and TGSP constable Mullagiri Vardhan, 27, both residents of Sattupalli mandal, were among those arrested in connection with the case, police said.

Among the others arrested are three accused from Khammam district, one from Secunderabad and the remaining from Andhra Pradesh.

Acting on a complaint filed by one of the victims, K. Gangadhar Reddy of Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa district, the police registered a dacoity case against 14 members of the gang on June 26, 2026.

Following a thorough investigation, the police arrested 12 members of the gang on Wednesday.

The gang’s modus operandi was to lure gullible persons by introducing themselves as realtors over the phone and collecting huge sums by promising to give more than double the amount. The gang members allegedly duped  the victims by handing over bundles of dummy children’s currency notes and intimidating them by impersonating police personnel, sources said.

The police seized Rs 17.60 lakh in cash, two cars, one moped, 16 mobile phones and 80 bundles of dummy children’s currency notes.

Police are on the lookout for two more members of the gang, who are absconding.