VIJAYAWADA: Two constables of the Excise and Prohibition department have been arrested for extorting money from a group of men by posing as police. The men were reportedly gambling in a hotel at Mahanadu road on July 17.
The accused constables--identified as Sri Ramachandra Murthy and Madhusudhan--were suspended from duties immediately after their arrest.
According to police, the accused told the men that they were from Patamata police station. They raided the hotel room on July 17 and seized Rs 1.7 lakhs from the gamblers and fled the scene.
Suspecting the authenticity of their identities, the hotel management filed a complaint with Patamata police, who identified the accused with CCTV footage.
The police informed the incident to higher officials of the excise department, who immediately launched a departmental action and suspended them from duties.
“We have arrested the two excise constables and a case under section 170 of IPC was filed against them,” said Patamata police.
Shockingly, one of the two accused, Sri Ramachandra Murthy, is the district president of excise department employees association.
In another incident, Nunna police filed a case against one Ashok for allegedly impersonating a police constable from Mangalagiri and cheating seven persons to the tune of Rs 3 lakh. The police said a team was sent to arrest him, but was absconding.
Rs 1.7 Lakh seized from gamblers
One of the two accused, Sri Ramachandra Murthy, is the district president of excise department employees association.
They raided the hotel room on July 17, seized Rs 1.7 lakhs from the gamblers and fled the scene.