Four policemen, who allegedly robbed a valuable gem from a businessman at Osmania University a fortnight ago, were arrested by the police on Tuesday.
The accused – Dharavath Balu Naik, an Armed Reserve constable of Nalgonda district; K. Rajugopal, constable at CPL Amberpet; M. Srinu Naik, constable with first battalion TSSP, Yedalapally Raju, constable, CAR Hyderabad; C. Venkata Rajam, a dismissed police constable along with Kareem, an advocate – robbed a businessman, Ramreddy, of a ‘divine stone’ worth Rs. 25 lakh on June 16. According to police, K. Rama Krishna, a cashew trader from West Godavari district, approached Ramreddy, a financer, and sought his help in selling the stone which he got from his ancestors. Ramreddy, in turn, contacted Kareem who showed interest in purchasing it.
On June 16, Kareem along with the policemen went to the Osmania University campus where the latter took the stone, an Aadhar card, phone diary and Rs. 14,000 cash from Ramreddy, Inspector Osmania University, V. Ashok Reddy said.
ADVERTISEMENT
After robbing the businessman, the gang members decided to sell the stone. Convinced that the phone numbers in the diary were that of potential buyers, Kareem contacted Balakrishna Murthy, Rama Krishna’s father, the police said. Balakrishna and Rama Krishna went to a flat in Punjagutta where Kareem introduced the policemen as Task Force personnel and showed them the stone. “The father-son duo identified the stone and told that it was stolen at Osmania University. Since then, the accused persons switched off their mobile phones fearing being caught,” the Inspector added.
Based on a complaint, the police registered a case and arrested them.