A prosecution witness in a 2019 murder case was allegedly abducted from the Tirupati court premises on Wednesday by a group of persons before he could depose. Police rescued him near Srikalahasti within hours and registered a case against the accused.
The witness, Mallavarapu Chinna, had appeared before the court to give evidence in the murder case relating to the killing of Pasupuleti Murali alias Beltu Murali, a resident of Nehru Nagar, in 2019.
According to police, a group allegedly intercepted Chinna inside the court premises and attempted to force him to change his statement.
When he refused, they allegedly pushed him into a vehicle and fled.
On receiving information, police formed special teams and launched a search operation. Using CCTV footage, technical evidence and vehicle tracking, officers traced the vehicle near Srikalahasti, intercepted it and rescued the witness.
Chinna was later taken into protective custody.
Police registered a case against Pasupuleti Suresh, Pasupuleti Ravi, Pasupuleti Vinay and several others in connection with the alleged abduction. Efforts are under way to identify and arrest the remaining accused.
Further investigation is in progress.
Lopenta VRO caught taking `20,000 bribe
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday caught Lopenta Village Revenue Officer (VRO) Malleshwara Rao allegedly accepting a bribe of `20,000 at the Grama Sachivalayam in Laveru mandal of Srikakulam district.
According to Srikakulam ACB DSP Satyanarayana Rao, a farmer lodged a complaint alleging that the VRO had demanded the bribe to include all of his ancestral land in the ongoing comprehensive land resurvey and facilitate the issuance of 1-B records and Pattadar Passbooks.
Acting on the complaint, ACB officials laid a trap and caught the accused while allegedly demanding and accepting the bribe from Koyya Satyanarayana of Ajjaram village in Etcherla mandal. The trap was executed at around 1.25 p.m. near Shapuram village in Laveru mandal.
A case was registered under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.
Officials said Malleshwara Rao joined government service as a Village Revenue Assistant in 2006 and was promoted as a Village Revenue Officer in 2017. After serving in Teppalavalasa village of Ranasthalam mandal, he was posted to Lopenta Grama Sachivalayam on July 1, 2022.
The ACB said further investigation is under way.
Three held with liquid ganja, Tapentadol tablets
Three youths were arrested by the Old Guntur police on Wednesday for allegedly possessing and selling liquid ganja and Tapentadol tablets during a raid in Balaji Nagar as part of the Guntur district police’s intensified anti-narcotics drive.
Acting on specific intelligence, police conducted a raid near the railway tracks at 0 Line Extension in Balaji Nagar at around 10.30 a.m. and apprehended the trio. They seized 120 grams of liquid ganja, packed in 12 containers, and 50 Tapentadol tablets (five strips) from their possession.
The accused were identified as Chavali Venkata Shankar Ayyannar alias Chinnu (21), Chilakala Muralikrishna Reddy (21) and Eruva Venkata Satish (20), all residents of Old Guntur.
Police said Chinnu was found with 80 grams of liquid ganja in eight containers and 10 Tapentadol tablets, while the other two were each carrying 20 grams of liquid ganja in two containers and 20 Tapentadol tablets.
A case has been registered as FIR No. 222/2026 under the relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Further investigation is under way.
East DSP T. Seetharam said special police teams, in coordination with the EAGLE unit, had intensified efforts to identify and prosecute those involved in the sale, supply and consumption of narcotic substances.
Special Court rejects bail plea of YSRC MLC Ananta Babu in murder case
A special court on Wednesday rejected the bail petition of YSRC MLC Ananta Satya Udaya Bhaskar, alias Ananta Babu, in the murder case of his former driver, Veedhi Subrahmanyam, in Rajamahendravaram, East Godavari district.
Special Public Prosecutor Muppala Subba Rao opposed the bail plea, arguing that the accused should not be granted bail in view of his alleged criminal antecedents.
After hearing the arguments, the court dismissed the bail petition.
Ananta Babu is currently lodged in the Central Prison at Rajamahendravaram under judicial remand in the case.
Man held with six suspected tiger claws
Forest officials have arrested a man after seizing six suspected tiger claws from his possession in the Atmakur area of Nandyal district, intensifying investigations into a possible wildlife trafficking network.
The accused, identified as Timothy, was intercepted by forest personnel after he was found moving under suspicious circumstances. During a search, officials recovered six claws believed to belong to a tiger. The claws were seized and the accused was taken into custody.
Deputy director of the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Vignesh Appav, said the suspect was intercepted based on credible information.
“We seized six claws from his possession and have taken him into custody. A detailed investigation is under way to trace their origin and identify others involved in the supply chain,” he said.
Officials said it was yet to be confirmed whether the seized claws belonged to a tiger or a leopard. The samples will be sent for scientific examination to establish the species.
The case has assumed significance following the recent deaths of two tigers in the region. Forest officials suspect the seizure could be linked to an inter-state wildlife trafficking network.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the accused may have been transporting the claws for illegal sale. Officials suspect wildlife body parts fetch high prices in black markets, particularly in neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Further investigation is under way.
PET booked for sexual assault on boy
Police have booked a Physical Education Teacher (PET) under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following allegations that he sexually assaulted an eight-year-old Class III student at a private school in Ongole.
According to a complaint lodged by the boy’s parents, Moruboyina Subbarao allegedly sexually assaulted the child on multiple occasions. The alleged abuse came to light after the boy became reluctant to attend school and disclosed the incidents when questioned by his parents.
The parents demanded stringent action against the accused and sought action against the school management if negligence was established.
Ongole Two Town police registered a case and launched an investigation. The child was taken to the Government General Hospital for medical examination.
Two Town Circle Inspector Veeranaik said further action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation and the medical examination report.
Officials of the Education Department and the Child Protection Department have also initiated a separate inquiry into the allegations.
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