Two More Arrested in ?8.7 Crore Telangana CMRF Cheque Scam

Hyderabad police on Sunday, September 22, arrested two more men in connection with the ?8.71 crore fraud involving the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).

The scam began after a cheque was stolen from the office of a former minister following the 2023 Assembly elections. The latest accused are Pagadala Srinivasa Rao and Yasa Venkaeshwarulu, who were caught by a detective team and sent to judicial custody. Police say more suspects are likely to be involved.

Earlier, on September 18, seven people from Godavarikhani village in Pedapally district were arrested. They posed as fake beneficiaries, deposited stolen cheques into their own accounts, and withdrew the money. Police say this cheated the government and deprived genuine victims of relief.

A case has been filed under multiple sections of the IPC, including cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, along with the IT Act.

This is the third round of arrests. On July 15, four others were held, including the main accused, Jogula Naresh Kumar. As a staffer in a minister’s office, he misused his access to 230 sanctioned cheques. He allegedly forged details and deposited 19 of them in a Hyderabad bank.

Investigations are still underway.