Two Men Arrested in Hyderabad for Posing as Naxals and Attempting Extortion

In a dramatic turn of events, Hyderabad police have arrested two men who attempted to extort ₹50 lakh from a local businessman by posing as Naxalites and creating fear through explosives. The men, identified as Yerramsetty Raju (33) and Kandurelli Raju (24), both from Gannavaram in Andhra Pradesh, were taken into custody after a thorough investigation led by the Jeedimetla Police.

The incident came to light on May 22 when the complainant, Kuna Raghavender Goud, found a disturbing scene outside his home in Shapur Nagar, Hyderabad. His father, Ravinder Goud, noticed a damaged Tulasi plant along with a red towel and a threatening letter placed on their car. The letter contained a demand for ₹50 lakh, claiming it was from Naxalites. It also included a stern warning that if the money was not paid by 9 am on the following Friday, serious harm would come to the family.

The police immediately launched an investigation, analyzing over 500 hours of CCTV footage in the area. Their efforts led to the identification and capture of the two accused, who had allegedly planted multiple explosive devices in a bid to intimidate the victim. The accused were arrested from the HMT forest area, where they were hiding.

During interrogation, the two men confessed to their crime, revealing that they had fabricated the entire threat in order to extort money from the victim. They admitted to assembling 13 country-made bombs in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, which they intended to use to frighten the family into complying with their demands. The police recovered the explosives, along with four mobile phones and the original threatening letter from the suspects.

It was also revealed that Yerramsetty Raju had a prior criminal history, having been involved in property-related crimes. He had reportedly lost his job three months ago and resorted to this desperate measure to resolve his financial troubles. Both Raju and Kandurelli were aware that the family was well-off, and they believed that pretending to be Naxalites would instill enough fear to force the payment.

The quick response of the Jeedimetla Police helped avert any potential danger to the family. The police praised the role of the community in providing information and staying vigilant, which contributed to the swift apprehension of the suspects. Authorities have reassured the public that steps are being taken to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future, stressing the importance of reporting suspicious activities promptly.

The arrested men have been remanded to judicial custody, and further investigations are ongoing to determine if they were involved in other criminal activities. The police are also seeking additional information that may aid in their inquiries.

This case highlights the growing trend of individuals attempting to exploit fear and manipulation for personal gain. Authorities are reinforcing their efforts to tackle such extortion attempts and are committed to upholding public safety and security in the region.