VIJAYAWADA: Sleuths of the Commissioner’s Task Force (CTF) arrested four persons for posing as food safety officials and extorting money from traders at Vidyadharapuram on Sunday.
The four accused, identified as Vajjala Srinivas Kumar (48), Lokam Balaji (42), Attamuri Kiran Kumar and Kaligithi Kiran Kumar, collected money from traders threatening them of seizing their establishments.
“The prime accused Srinivas Kumar introduced himself as food safety inspector and committed similar crimes in Vuyyur town in the past,” the police officials said.
“Cashing in on the situation, the gang visited food restaurants and grocery stores in Vidyadharapuram, demanding money from businesses. By issuing fake notices, they have collected lakhs of rupees,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP- CTF) G Rajiv Kumar said.
From the accused, the officials recovered a printer, fake certificates and identity cards, stamps, Honda City car, six mobile phones and 4,590 cash. A case was filed against them and they were sent to Bhavanipuram police station for police custody.