Cops Probe Gang Encashing CMRF Cheques Illegally, 1 Held

Police suspect that members of the gang encashed cheques belonging to at least 50 CMRF beneficiaries in Telangana and cheated them.

The fraud came to light when the office of irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy enquired with the CMRF office after an applicant from Kodad complained that he had not received any financial assistance, despite applying in 2022. The applicant, identified as Gadde Venkateshwar Rao, lodged a complaint with Kodad Rural Police after learning from the minister’s office that a cheque for ₹1.5 lakh had already been issued in his name and withdrawn.

Following this, Kodad Rural Police registered a case (FIR No. 237/2025) against Gaddam Venkateshwar Rao, who had deposited the cheque into his State Bank of India account at Jaggayyapet, Andhra Pradesh, and reportedly arrested him.

Venkateshwar Rao said he had applied for ₹2.5 lakh from the CMRF through the office of then MLA Bollam Mallaiah Yadav in 2022 to cover expenses for his heart surgery. When he contacted the former MLA’s office, staff told him the cheque had not yet been issued.

He later approached the office of current MLA N. Uttam Padmavathi about his pending application. Her staff contacted the office of Uttam Kumar Reddy to check the status. The inquiry revealed that a cheque for ₹1.5 lakh had been issued on August 20, 2023, and encashed. Using the cheque number, Venkateshwar Rao identified the bank account into which the amount had been deposited and lodged a police complaint two days ago.

When contacted, police officials declined to share details, stating that the investigation was still in progress.

According to police sources, a personal assistant to a former elected representative, a person from Munugala, and a Secretariat employee in Hyderabad are believed to be involved. Police reportedly arrested Gaddam Venkateshwar Rao at Jaggayyapet and shifted him to Kodad. Further details are expected to emerge during the investigation.