HYDERABAD/RAJAHMUNDRY: The East Godavari district police today swung into action to trace a person who has allegedly cheated many people by promising them jobs by claiming to be a relative of deputy chief minister N Chinna Rajappa even as Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission issued notice to top officials in this regard.
Taking a suo motu cognisance of media reports that a man named Avinash is doing "mischief" by allegedly collecting lakhs of rupees from innocent persons by promising them jobs in government and attacking those who confronted him, APHRC asked the chief secretary, DGP and other officials to file a report by April 6.
As per reports, the East Godavari police had taken Avinash into custody on February 27 but later let him off due to "political pressure".
"When the person (Avinash) is doing mischief claiming to be the relative of Home Minister, the action of police in arresting and releasing him immediately is giving scope for suspicion," the APSHRC said.
The deputy chief minister has rubbished the allegations.
"I don't know who is Avinash. Arrest Avinash and take stringent action," East Godavari SP K Ravi Prakash quoted Chinna Rajappa as saying.
East Godavari police today formed teams to nab Avinash on the directions of the deputy chief minister.
"We have set up police teams on the directions of Chinna Rajappa to trace Avinash who allegedly cheated people by collecting huge amounts by promising them jobs in the state government," Ravi Prakash said, adding that Avinash hails from Khammam district of Telangana state.
Meanwhile, Kakinada police have booked Avinash on the basis of a video footage purportedly showing him beating up an unidentified man, which was aired by some news channels yesterday.
"We have taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and registered a case against Avinash on the basis of the video footage carried by some news channels," Kakinada SP K Ravi Prakash said.
It is reported that Avinash, who claimed to be holding the cabinet rank and moves in a posh car with a VIP beacon installed atop it, has allegedly cheated many educational institutions and NGOs by collecting huge amounts of money from them.
The reports further claimed that Avinash confined a Dalit family in their house, beat them up and filmed the incident which he used to show to those who confronted him.
Meanwhile, a corporate school, located in Peddapuram town of East Godavari district, today approached police alleging that one person, who identified himself as Avinash, has threatened them of severe consequences saying their school is lacking in basic amenities, police said.
"We have visited the school and spoke to students, teachers and the staff. We have recorded statements of all staff members of the school," said Peddapuram sub-inspector of police B Sivakrishna.
He said Avinash has set up the office of 'Human Rights Commission (South Zone)' in A V Apparaopeth area in Rajahmundry and moves around with private gun men.
Sivakrishna said Avinash has the habit of taking photographs with political leaders, NGOs and other VIPs when they visit district, and make innocent people pay money by threatening them of dire consequences by flaunting his 'contacts'.