VIJAYAWADA: Ajit Singh Nagar police has taken three persons under custody for impersonating a city corporator and extorting money from residents. One of the held is employed with Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC).
Following a complaint from the 52nd division corporator, Yerubothu Sravani, and her husband on Saturday, AS Nagar sub-inspector Siva Prasad conducted an investigation and took the alleged Corporation employee and his two aides under custody.
The primary accused, Nakka Jyotheswara Rao, worked as a chainman in the town planning department of VMC. He appointed Obulesu and Sampath Kumar for collecting money from residents and builders. In the investigation, it was revealed that Jyotheswara Rao purchased a new sim and created a fake profile in the TrueCaller mobile application by the name of Yerubothu Sravani.
“Since Jyotheswara Rao works with the town planning section, he knows where constructions are going on at the division. Citing violations in the construction, he demanded many builders and residents to give him money, failing which the structure would be demolished,” said SI Siva Prasad. The issue came to light when one resident approached Corporator Sravani and claimed that he received a threat call by someone who claimed to be affiliated to her.
She approached AS Nagar police and lodged a complaint. “Jyotheswara Rao created a fake profile in TrueCaller with my name to make believe the victims that it was me who called them. He is the mastermind behind this. so that the victim would believe that it was me.” Sravani said.