Hyderabad:Panjagutta police have registered a case against Manish Bhati, a grocery trader, and five of his associates for allegedly sexually assaulting a Mumbai-based businesswoman under the false promise of marriage, and later blackmailing and threatening her after defrauding her of more than ₹5.09 crore.
According to police, the victim, a Mumbai-based trader, initially filed a Zero FIR in Mumbai. The case was later transferred to Panjagutta police for further investigation.
In her complaint, the victim said she first met Bhati in July 2024, when he began purchasing pistachios and cloves from her, police said. After making timely payments at first to gain her trust, he began delaying payments from November 2024.
During this period, Bhati introduced her to his brother, Pawan Bhati, and four other associates: Mohammed Rashid, Zeeshan Ahmed, Nadeem Jumani and Irfan Bhada. The group allegedly operated through various business entities and continued to procure goods from her, accumulating unpaid dues of ₹5,09,81,914, she stated in her complaint.
The victim also alleged that whenever she demanded payment, Bhati deflected the conversation by professing his love and promising to marry her, leading her to believe he was unmarried.
Under this pretext, he invited her to Hyderabad several times. She alleged that on August 5, 2024, he took her to a hotel room and sexually assaulted her. He allegedly assaulted her again on September 9 and 11 at different hotels in the city after forcing her to consume alcohol, police said.
The accused also allegedly captured semi-nude images of the victim during video calls without her knowledge. When she continued to demand the ₹5.09 crore in arrears, Bhati allegedly blackmailed her and threatened to share her private images with her business associates unless she dropped her claims.
Panjagutta police are investigating the case. The complainant’s statement has been recorded, a police officer said, adding that the case would be thoroughly investigated and action taken in accordance with the law.
“We are probing all angles to establish the facts. Bank transaction details, business invoices, hotel records, digital conversations and other electronic evidence are being collected,” police officers said. The victim was being provided assistance through the Hyderabad Bharosa Kendra. Police will determine each accused person’s role based on the evidence and take further legal action, the officer added.
Techie loses ₹78.43 lakh in fake trading scam
Hyderabad:A 40-year-old IT employee from Kothapet lost ₹78.43 lakh in an online stock investment fraud after cybercriminals lured him into a WhatsApp group and a fake AI-based institutional trading platform.
According to a complaint lodged with Malkajgiri cybercrime police, the victim was added to a WhatsApp group named misleadingly after a global finance services firm. Its administrators shared stock market tips, investment recommendations and screenshots showing substantial profits. They initially advised him to trade through his personal account with a stockbroking firm, where he made a profit of ₹25,300, gaining confidence in their recommendations.
The group members later persuaded him to register on an AI-based institutional trading platform, claiming it was associated with the global firm and offered high returns with minimal risk. The victim was encouraged to invest in various stocks, and the platform displayed profits to build his confidence.
The fraudsters later promoted an initial public offering (IPO) of a company, claiming shares could be bought at discounted prices through the institutional account. The victim subscribed to 19,000 shares worth about ₹37.05 lakh. He alleged that another 23,000 shares were credited to his account without his consent and that he was pressured to arrange an additional ₹44.85 lakh.
The platform subsequently showed profits of ₹1.57 crore. The fraudsters then allegedly demanded more money and threatened to contact his employer if he did not comply.
After exhausting his savings and borrowing from his wife and friends, the victim tried to withdraw his investment. His account was frozen and the withdrawal was denied. The fraudsters later stopped responding to his calls and messages.
The victim reported a total loss of ₹78,43,437. Malkajgiri Cybercrime police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act and began an investigation.
Woman caught within a day of jewellery theft
Hyderabad:Shadnagar police arrested a 45-year-old woman for allegedly stealing a gold mangalsutra chain weighing 2.5 tolas from Sri Krishna Jewellers on Railway Station Road. They recovered the ornament within 24 hours of receiving the complaint.
Police said the accused, Kummari Rajamani, entered the showroom posing as a customer and examined gold earrings to divert the sales staff’s attention. She allegedly took a gold mangalsutra chain from a jewellery tray and left the premises when the staff’s attention was diverted.
The theft came to light when showroom owner Kothra Raghuveer Gupta checked the stock and reviewed CCTV footage. He later lodged a complaint with Shadnagar police, who registered a case. Using technical evidence, police identified and arrested Rajamani and recovered the stolen chain. She was produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody, police said.
Cops raid eight illegal liquor outlets
Hyderabad: Shankarpally police registered eight cases against illegal liquor outlets in Parveda village and seized 141 bottles containing about 42 litres of liquor during simultaneous raids on eight belt shops. According to Shankarpally inspector Rudvir Kunar, the outlets operated through grocery shops, general stores and fast-food centres, where liquor was stocked and sold at higher prices without government permission.
Rudvir formed special teams to raid the outlets across the village. Police seized bottles of various liquor brands and registered a separate case against each outlet. “Illegal liquor outlets affect families by contributing to alcohol addiction, financial difficulties and domestic disputes. Those running unauthorised liquor shops will face legal action, and repeat offenders will face stringent action under the law,” Rudvir said.
Four held for illegal sand extraction
Hyderabad:Madgul police arrested four persons for allegedly extracting sand illegally from Madgul Lake and transporting it without authorisation. A magistrate at Amangal remanded them to judicial custody. The accused were identified as Kasani Mallesh, Gaddam Jangaiah, M. Jagadeesh and Katla Raju.
According to police, the accused excavated soil from the Madgul lake and filtered it to extract sand before transporting it illegally. The activity came to light during an investigation into illegal extraction and transportation.
Following the investigation, Madgul police arrested the four under the supervision of station house officer Madhu. They were produced before the magistrate at Amangal, who remanded them to judicial custody for 15 days. They were later shifted to Chanchalguda Central Prison.
Hyderabad: Fortyeight-year-old Upender, manager at a diagnostic centre, died allegedly by suicide at the lab on Sunday. SR Nagar police said Upender left a suicide note stating that that he was dying by suicide as he could not repay dues worth `15 lakh. The police registered a case and began investigations.
Groom-to-be, worker killed in crash near Shamirpet
Hyderabad:A bridegroom, whose wedding was just two days away, and a construction worker were killed after a car collided head-on with an autorickshaw near Tuggimetla in Shamirpet mandal of Rangareddy district on Sunday. Seven others, including the autorickshaw driver, sustained injuries in the accident, Bomraspet police said.
The groom, 28-year-old Bhudhatha Srisailam, died on the spot when the car he was driving crashed into the autorickshaw. Subhankar Kargi, a construction worker who was seated beside the autorickshaw driver, also died at the scene after the impact caused the vehicle to overturn.
According to police, Srisailam was returning to his native Lagacharla in Dudyala mandal after collecting clothes stitched for his wedding. Preliminary investigations revealed that a front tyre of the car burst shortly after the vehicle crossed the Tuggimetla village junction, causing the driver to lose control and veer into the path of the oncoming autorickshaw.
Bomraspet SI Golla Balavenkata Ramana said Srisailam was alone in the car at the time of the accident. He worked at a hotel in Hyderabad and was making preparations for his marriage scheduled on November 18 at TTD Kalyana Mandapam in Tirupati.
Subhankar Kargi and the other occupants of the autorickshaw were construction workers. They had reportedly boarded the vehicle at Hafeezpet and were travelling towards Kosgi when the mishap occurred.
Investigators suspect the car was travelling at a high speed when the tyre burst, reducing the driver’s ability to control the vehicle. The exact cause of the accident is being examined. The deceased and several of the injured workers had come to Hyderabad from West Bengal a few years ago in search of employment, police said.
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