Police Bust Drug Network, Seize 11.2 Kg of Ganja Worth ₹5.60 Lakh

Warangal:Police on Wednesday busted a ganja smuggling network in Ghanpur mandal and seized 11.2 kg of dry ganja valued at ₹5.60 lakh. Speaking to the media, Bhupalpally sub-divisional police officer (DSP) A. Sampath Rao said the operation was carried out based on a tip-off. A police team, led by Chityal circle inspector Mallesh and supervised by sub-inspector Ashok, laid a trap near Mangala Kunta Mathadi on the outskirts of Ravinagar village.

Around 5 pm, the team intercepted three individuals carrying a suspicious bag. Upon inspection, the police found 11.210 kg of ganja. The trio was taken into custody and interrogated.

The arrested were identified as Arelli Akhil (23) of Bhupalpally mandal, Amudala Karthik (25) of Ghanpur, and Muske Rohith (21) of Nadikuda mandal. During interrogation, the accused admitted to procuring ganja at low rates from unidentified sources in the hilly areas of Odisha and smuggling it into Bhupalpally and Ghanpur for resale. They reportedly took to smuggling to overcome financial hardship and support a lavish lifestyle.

DSP Sampath Rao urged the public to join hands with the police in curbing the drug menace. He encouraged citizens to report illegal activities through Dial-100 or by informing local police officials, assuring that identities of informants would be kept confidential. The DSP also commended the efforts of cops involved in the operation for their swift and effective action.

Woman duped of Rs 44.83 L in online loan scam

Hyderabad:A 59-year-old private employee from the city lost `44,83,000 to online loan fraudsters. The scammers circulated a message in an Arya Vysya WhatsApp group, claiming loans of up to `15 lakh would be sanctioned at a low interest rate within hours, subject to eligibility and document verification, a city cybercrime officer said. The message included a contact number from a finance company to lure the victim, said R.G. Siva Maruthi, ACP, City Cyber Crime Unit (CCCU).

According to the ACP, the victim contacted the number and was told she had a low CIBIL score. To qualify for the loan, the fraudster asked her to scan a UPI code and make an initial refundable payment. Trusting the offer, the victim paid and was then asked to share images of her Aadhaar card, PAN card and a cheque leaf, which she did.

When the victim informed her brother, he advised her to delete the shared documents from the chat, which she did. The fraudster soon called, told that the loan was under process and questioned the deletion. He then imposed a fine through another UPI code. After the victim paid, the scammer claimed her bank statement showed insufficient funds and demanded further payments. This pattern continued, with fresh issues cited and fines repeatedly imposed.

Since the victim didn’t have enough funds in his account, the victim borrowed money from friends and family. Eventually, the fraudsters said they had received the full amount and sent cropped screenshots — without date or time — as proof. They then messaged the victim, saying the “Head Office” would release the loan soon but warned the offer would be revoked if she failed to pay more.

By this time, the victim had exhausted her resources, losing a total of `44,83,000 in 25 UPI transactions from her bank account. The scammers had assured her the fines would be refunded with the loan. When she stopped responding and refused to pay further, the scammers began sending abusive messages and accused her of filing a police complaint, said D. Kavitha, DCP, cyber crimes.

Spa owner held, 9 women rescued in raid

Hyderabad:A special team from SR Nagar police station raided the Ruby Spa in Ameerpet late on Tuesday night, arresting its owner and rescuing nine women who had been coerced into illegal activities.

According to SR Nagar station house afficer T. Srinath Reddy, spa's owner and manager G. Venkat lured the women with promises of employment as beauticians but later forced them into unlawful activities with customers. The spa operated from the third floor of a showroom building.

During the raid, police uncovered evidence of the illegal operations. Venkat was taken into custody, produced before the court, and has been remanded to judicial custody.

Duo wanted in 132 break-ins arrested

Hyderabad:Meerpet police arrested two individuals involved in 80 and 52 house break-ins respectively. The two have been identified as Kattela Anoop Kumar, 35, a car driver, and Afroz Khan, 26, a welding worker, both hailing from Nagole and Falaknuma police station limits, respectively.

A police official said, “Anoop and Afroz were involved in 80 and 52 property offences separately under the various police station limits of Rachakonda, Cyberabad, Hyderabad commissionerates, including Sanga Reddy, Mahbubnagar, Adilabad, Siddipet and Kamareddy districts and Akola police station area in Maharashtra.”

The acquaintance between the two developed when they were behind bars. The Maharashtra police had arrested them in connection with a case. Post release in 2024, they started committing burglaries. They committed 23 offences in Rachakonda commissionerate alone. Sharing common interests of touring various places for sightseeing after selling the stolen booty, they visited places like Kasi, Varanasi, Mumbai and Karnataka.

The police officer further said, “Both were wanted in 23 cases under Rachakonda commissionerate. In the Meerpet police station, six cases were pending against them. Besides, they were wanted by Adibatla, Hayathnagar, Gatkesar, Cherlapally, Medipally, Keesara and Bhongir, as well as Armoor, Basara and Kodada police for their offences they had committed so far.”

They used to carry iron rod and after stealing a bike, explore an area for committing the crime. They usually target a bike parked in front of a house and sometimes in a parking lot. After the break-in, they used to decamp with the stolen booty.

“Both wanted to lead a lavish lifestyle and splurging on things after selling the stolen booty,” the police officer added.

32 illegal motors seized, 38 water consumers penalised in Hyd

Hyderabad:Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) seized 32 electric motors and penalised 38 consumers across all divisions for illegally attaching motors to water pipelines, disrupting supply, on the second day of its ‘Motor Free Tap’ drive.

HMWS&SB managing director Ashok Reddy led the inspections with his team in SR Nagar. “The drive will continue for the next 60 days. If anyone is caught using illegal motors, a fine of `5,000 will be imposed, motor will be seized immediately and a police case will be filed.” He also instructed officials to inspect all areas daily during water supply timings.

He visited houses, hostels and commercial buildings and found many using motors illegally. “These motors increase water pressure for one household but reduce supply for others nearby,” he said.

He said groundwater levels across the city have already declined and pointed out that tanker demand was rising in several areas. “This is why the drive was launched,” Ashok Reddy said, adding that all divisions will take part in the campaign.

On Wednesday itself, officials seized 32 illegal motors and imposed penalties on 38 consumers. In SR Nagar division itself, 20 motors were seized, the highest number across the city. So far, since the start of the drive on Tuesday, officials have identified 175 illegal motors across the city, seized 64 of them and penalised 84 consumers.

Many residents in low-lying areas, who earlier suffered due to low water pressure, are now getting proper supply. They expressed happiness and thanked the Water Board officials.

Social Media Organiser Held for Rape

Hyderabad:The Bachupally police arrested and remanded a 43-year-old social media organiser for allegedly raping and cheating a minor under the pretext of offering her a job and promising her marriage, on Tuesday.

According to Bachupally Inspector J Upender Rao, the accused has been identified as Bollam Yesudas David, 43, a native of Kothagudem district and a resident of Mallampet.

A few months back, David had gotten acquainted with the minor and had promised her marriage and a job in the social media space. Later, he took her to a hotel room and allegedly raped her. He assaulted her on several occasions under the same pretext and impregnated her (not sure if this had to be given).

After the mother of the minor learnt of this, she lodged a complaint with the Dundigal police, who registered a zero-FIR and transferred it to the Bachupally police station. A case was registered against him and he was remanded to judicial custody on Tuesday.

OBCs seek fair leadership role

Hyderabad:Members of Backward Classes (BC) communities, who make up 56.33 per cent of Telangana’s population, occupy only one of the nine chairperson positions in district cooperative central (DCC) banks and have no representation in the Chief Minister’s Office, according to data presented by the BC Intellectuals Forum (BCIF). The figures, shared at a press conference in Hyderabad, show the continued “underrepresentation of OBCs” in key state-level nominated posts.

The forum included retired officials, academics, student leaders, and BC organisation representatives. Speakers expressed concern over the mismatch between the community’s demographic weight and its presence in administrative structures.

BCIF further showed that of 56 chairpersons appointed to state-run corporations, 23 belong to the Reddy community. Only 11 are from OBC backgrounds, most of whom head corporations linked to traditional caste-based occupations such as handlooms and toddy tapping. The remaining posts are held by individuals from other dominant caste groups.

Justice V. Eswaraiah (regired), former chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes, said that several qualified retired judges from OBC communities had not been appointed to commissions or committees. He added that representation in the judiciary remained limited.

BCIF chairperson T. Chiranjeevulu said many government institutions did not have reservation policies in place, which contributed to the lack of diversity in leadership. He noted that the absence of OBCs in top offices like the Chief Minister’s Office reflects a structural gap in governance.

Prof. I. Tirumali, retired from Delhi University, welcomed the state’s decision to conduct a caste census and propose 42 per cent reservations for BCs. He argued that policy initiatives alone were not sufficient to correct long-standing imbalances. He called for the formation of a social justice commission to monitor and evaluate representation.

G. Kiran Kumar, president of the All India OBC Students Association, said the group would protest if recruitment or education notifications are issued without implementing the promised 42 per cent BC reservations.

Dowry Plaint on In-Laws and Husband

Hyderabad:A 21-year-old woman filed a harassment complaint against her husband and in-laws at the Keesara police station, alleging that continuous abuse and pressure to get dowry had started weeks after she married the love of her life.

According to police, the victim, a private employee from Ambedkarnagar, married Malle Akash, 22, in June 2024. As Akash's family disapproved of the marriage, the couple began living separately. Within a few weeks, Akash allegedly turned abusive under his parents’ influence. He began abusing her and demanded that she bring dowry to be accepted into the family.

The in-laws reportedly took Akash to their native place in Andhra Pradesh and said the couple would be reunited if she brought dowry. The woman approached her parents, who gave her five grams of gold earrings and a ring. Her husband allegedly took the jewellery, pawned it for money and continued the harassment.

Unemployed, Akash reportedly pawned her office laptop several times. Each time, the victim had to recover it by paying out of pocket. As the abuse escalated to physical violence, the woman approached the police. A case has been registered against Akash and his parents under relevant sections of the law.