Two Arrested For Posing As Reporters And Extorting Money
Kamareddy police arrested two men accused of posing as digital newspaper reporters and extorting money from government employees, businesspersons and real estate operators by threatening adverse publicity and official complaints.
The Kamareddy police arrested two persons, who posed as press reporters and extorted money from several people. The two are Induri Sidda Goud and Lande Bhaskar. Another accused Bapu Rao is absconding.
According to Kamareddy DSP, the police got crucial evidence in this respect while investigating the suicide of Chepuri Sirisha. Police learned that the accused obtained details of the victim’s government employment, salary and service details through an RTI application.
They threatened her that they would ensure she lost her job unless she paid them some money. She was thus subjected to severe mental harassment.
Police said, “Based on this evidence, the case is being investigated under charges of abetment of suicide.”
Induri Sidda Goud and Lande Bhaskar were taken into custody in the Kamareddy. During interrogation, the two disclosed details related to the offence. They were subsequently produced before the Kamareddy judicial court.
Investigations revealed that the accused introduced themselves as press reporters of digital newspapers and targeted government employees, businesspersons and real estate operators. They demanded money from them by threatening to publish adverse news reports, lodge complaints with authorities, or have the victims dismissed from their jobs, police claimed.
Police officials said the accused was continuing with this racket for quite some time. Several similar cases involving threats and extortion had previously been registered against them at Kamareddy, Yellareddy, Domakonda, Gandhari and Devunipalli police stations.
The investigation in the present case indicated that the accused used the same method to intimidate, pressure and mentally harass the deceased woman, police said.
