A special police team arrested an MBA graduate, who is also the son of a police officer, on the charge of leading a gang of highway robbers, who extorted money from people posing as police officers. The gang was busted with the arrest of all its eight members at Gundukolanu Centre in West Godavari district.
According to Superintendent of Police K. Raghuram Reddy, Kondeti Nagarjuna, son of an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Vijayawada, formed a gang with his associates from Krishna and West Godavari districts, after completing his MBA. The desire to earn quick money to afford his lavish lifestyle drove Nagarjuna to commit robberies, the SP said at a media conference here. Two-wheelers and cell phones were recovered from the gang.
Modus operandiMasquerading as police personnel on night patrolling, the gang extorted money from vehicle crews on the National Highway-16 between Kalaparru toll plaza and Tadepalligudem. They reportedly stopped the vehicles on the pretext of checking and took away cash from the crew members, Mr. Reddy said.
The gang walked into a trap laid by the police after a police team on night patrolling received complaints from the victims of the gang. The SP said instructions were issued to the police personnel to investigate the case in mufti.
Burglars heldIn another incident, the police busted another gang of burglars and recovered 54 sovereigns of gold, 2 kg of silver ornaments and Rs. 2.5 lakh in cash from the accused. Mahesh Manikantha from Tamil Nadu, allegedly the kingpin of the gang, was arrested in this connection.
Mr. Reddy said the gang committed 17 house burglaries in Tadepalligudem, Tanuku and Chebrole circles in one year.
