VIJAYAWADA: The Guntur police arrested one person of a five-member gang who allegedly tried to defame Telugu Association of North America (Tana) president Satish Vemana by linking him to the Chicago sex racket involving Tollywood actresses.
One of the accused is a member of Tana, Volleti Venkata Mohan. His aide Vallabhaneni Bhargav of Tenali was arrested by the police on Thursday.
Guntur additional superintendent of police Y.T. Naidu told the media that Mr Mohan was unable to digest the good name that Mr Vemana was earning through his social service and had conspired to defame him through social media. He said Mr Mohan allegedly took the help of Bhargav and Paruchuri Phanidhar, Putti Sarath and Gopalakrishna living in the US to carry out his plan.
Mr Naidu said that on Moh-an’s request, Bhargav gave him the SIM card belonging to his mother Pavani. Mohan used it to create a WhatsApp account on that number which he used to send objectionable messages to the relatives of Mr Vemana and other Tana members. The gang forwarded messages alleging Mr Vemana’s involvement in the Chicago sex racket.
Mr Vemana who came to India received the objectionable messages and asked his relative Maguluri Hari Babu of the Inner Ring Road area of Guntur to lodge a complaint with the police.
The police on investigation found the involvement of five persons in the conspiracy and arrested Bhargav in Guntur. Investigations are going on to nab the other accused, Mr Naidu said. He said look-out notices would be issued to nab other accused. Red corner notices would also be issued if required, he said.
