Kidnap Hoax Blows Lid off Cricket Betting Racket; ₹30L Seized

According to the police, they received a call early on Saturday regarding a suspected kidnapping at the gated community. Police reached the site and found it to be a prank call. During investigations, however, police searched the flat and found ₹30 lakh in cash, a tablet and three mobile phones.

Police identified the three occupants of the flat as Desineni Sumanth, Makati Manoj, and Kanumuri Gowtham Chowdary. The trio was operating Telegram channels that provided cricket predictions and promoted online betting applications. Police suspected that the trio was earning commissions by promoting betting applications. Police also began investigating into the source of the ₹30 lakh cash. The prank call, it turned out, was made by Sumanth to his girlfriend and led the police to the flat.

A case is registered at KPHB police station based on a petition submitted to the police. Investigators are examining the seized mobile phones and tablet for further details regarding the Telegram channels, betting applications and financial transactions, police said.

Man found murdered at Shanigalagutta

A 38-year-old man was found murdered at Shanigalagutta near Panthangi in Choutuppal mandal of Yadadri-Bhongir district on Sunday. The victim was identified as Rapolu Danaiah, a native of Ankireddugudem.

According to police, Danaiah had gone missing while working in agricultural fields. His wife Sharadha said she had gone about 250 metres away to cut grass for cattle and found him missing when she returned. She informed their relatives, who joined her in searching the area and found his body.

Police said Danaiah had been stabbed and hit with boulders. The assailants have not been identified.

Danaiah’s relatives expressed suspicion on Sharadha, citing disputes between the couple over the past few months. Police took her into custody for questioning.

The couple have a daughter. Choutuppal police registered a case and launched an investigation.

Engineer held for fake Insta profile

A software engineer accused of creating a fraudulent Instagram profile of a woman politician and posting abusive and sexually explicit comments on a video featuring her was arrested by Hyderabad cybercrime team on Sunday. During investigation, police found that the abusive video posted by the accused had originally been uploaded by the “Pura Local” Instagram channel and subsequently shared on social media platforms.

The objectionable content was deliberately posted with malicious intent to defame the complainant and outrage the victim’s modesty, inspector K. Satish Reddy said. The accused orchestrated a targeted digital harassment campaign by establishing a fictitious Instagram account to disseminate indecent and defamatory content against specific individuals, Satish added.

By operating through an anonymous profile, the accused sought to evade accountability while publishing derogatory remarks in a public forum to ensure maximum visibility. These actions were intended to cause reputational damage, undermine dignity and incite public hostility, ACP R.G. Siva Maruthi said.

Driver detained for traffic disruption

A heavy‑vehicle driver wanted for causing traffic disruption misbehaved with a police constable and fled the scene before being identified and detained by police. According to Banjara Hills traffic police sub-inspector Govardhan Reddy, the accused Abdul Rashid Pathan parked his heavy vehicle near a showroom at 4.20 pm on August 21, causing severe disruption to traffic. Based on the SI’s complaint, Banjara Hills law and order police booked a case against Pathan from Gujarat for misbehaving with a government officer on duty and violation of traffic rules.

Container overturns, traffic blocked 3 km

Traffic was disrupted for a stretch of three kilometres for over an hour when a container overturned after hitting a culvert at Palamakula on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru National Highway. BJP MP D.K. Aruna, returning home after a meeting in Mahbubnagar, was among those stuck in the traffic jam, police sources said.

According to Shamshabad Rural police, the container was heading towards the city during the early hours of Sunday when the driver lost control of the steering and hit the culvert. The driver suffered minor injuries and was treated as an outpatient. Police arranged tractors and a heavy container vehicle to clear the obstruction and restore traffic flow.

Recovery agents booked for harassment

Police booked cases against credit‑card recovery agents for harassing and abusing a housewife, her two minor daughters and family members while demanding repayment of dues. The case was registered after complainant Sailendran stated that on August 16 and 17 his wife Chandana, minor daughters and several family members received abusive calls from telecallers of a private bank recovery team.

He further alleged that Srinivasa Reddy, who had nothing to do with the dues, abused his family members, trespassed into his office and threatened female employees Deeksha and Nanda. Sailendran also said Reddy called his minor daughter’s personal mobile number and used abusive language. Police registered a case against the recovery agents, collecting financial details and technical evidence against the suspects.

Man booked for cheating woman in marriage

Police booked cases of betrayal and cheating against a man who absconded after allegedly cheating a woman under the pretext of marriage. According to Banjara Hills police, accused Ashafaq Khan of Chandrayangutta came in contact with the complainant through Facebook in 2025. He gained her confidence multiple times and exploited her.

When the victim insisted on marriage, Khan refused. On August 15, he blocked her mobile number, went to her workplace, insulted her, physically attacked her, threatened dire consequences and fled. Police recorded the victim’s complaint and booked cases against Khan. A special team has been formed to track and arrest him.

Private Employee Lured into Fake Trading App, Loses ₹11.28 Lakh

A 31-year-old private comany employee from Jagadgirigutta lodged a complaint with the Cyberabad cybercrime police alleging that he had lost `11.28 lakh to fraudsters after being lured into a fake stock market investment scheme through a WhatsApp group and a fraudulent trading application.

According to the complaint, he joined a WhatsApp group in April, where members claimed to offer trading guidance. A person claiming to be a professor posed as the group leader, while a woman claimed to be an analyst and encouraged the target to invest in the stock market.

Initially, the accused gained his confidence by guiding him to invest through his demat account and even displayed five per cent profits. They then introduced him to block trades, upper-circuit stocks and IPO allotments and asked him to download an application. The victim complied and transferred money to bank accounts and UPI IDs provided by the group. According to the complaint, he transferred a `11,28,700 and the accused showed a virtual profit of `9,34,092 on the application.

Kiran was then asked to invest in an IPO and was shown an allotment of 10,800 shares worth `13,36,500. When he attempted to withdraw his money, the accused demanded ten per cent commission upfront and disabled withdrawal options. The complainant said the group members stopped responding, following which he realised he have been cheated.

Drunk Flyer Detained After Ruckus at Shamshabad Airport

Police detained a drunk passenger for causing commotion at the Shamshabad airport here on Sunday. According to airport officials, the passenger was booked to travel to Varanasi. Officials said he had reached the airport heavily drunk. He completed the boarding process with great difficulty and not only became restless but also misbehaved with the staff while boarding the aircraft, police said. Following this, the airline refused to board the passenger. CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel handed over the passenger to the RGIA Shamshabad police for further investigation.