4 constables, 1 suspended cop arrested for robbing jewel, cash

Hyderabad: The Osmania University police on Tuesday arrested four policemen and a suspended constable when they attempted to steal a “chintamani stone,” which is said to be a wishfulfilling jewel. The arrested were identified as Chileveru Venkata Rajam, 38, suspended from First Battalion, Dharavath Balu Naik, 36, a native of Nalgonda district, working as constable in the Armed Reserve, Kothapalli Rajugopal, 40, constable in CPL Amberpet, Malothu Srinu Naik, 35, constable in First Battalion and Yedalapally Raju, 38, a resident of Sanathnagar, working as a constable at CAR Headquarters.

According to DCP (East) V Ravinder, the complainant, Karturi Ramakrishna, who was in cashew nut business, had incurred heavy losses in business and as such decided to sell the ‘chintamani’ stone. “Ramakrishna asked his financier, Ramreddy, to sell the stone for Rs 25 lakh.

Ramakrishna and his family then shifted to Almasguda in Meerpet and started living in a rented house. Ramreddy contacted an advocate, Kareeem alias Rasheed to sell the stone, who in turn, got in touch with the accused persons,” the DCP said. Kareem employed the four constables along with the suspended constable to masquerade as Task Force officials and snatch the jewel.

The advocate had promised Rs 3 lakh once the deal was materialised. The accused agreed for the deal and on May 16 waylaid Ramreddy’s vehicle and robbed the jewel and a cash of Rs 14,000 from him. On a complaint lodged by Ramakrishna on May 22, the police launched manhunt and arrested the accused, the DCP said.