Hyderabad police under lens for robbery

Hyderabad: The roles of an inspector rank official and a local Congress leader are suspected in the Banjara Hills robbery, in which a trader from Khammam was looted of Rs 30 lakh in new Rs 2,000 currency notes. The inspector is absconding and has not reported for duty. Detective inspector Y. Rajashekhar of Tappachabutra police station is suspected to be involved in robbing the trader along with a politician named Thirumalesh Naidu of the Congress at a private guest house in Banjara Hills, police officials from Banjara Hills police station said.

The victim, Laxman Agarwal, had come to Hyderabad with a bag of money to exchange it with demonetised currency for a hefty commission. He had contacted his dealer, who trapped him by informing the Congress leader and the inspector. “Agarwal had contacted a person named Mallesh, who had agreed to mediate between him and the other party for the cash exchange deal. Agarwal had offered the new currency for a 20 per cent commission for demonetised currency. Mallesh, who is close to the driver of Thirumalesh Naidu, informed him about the deal and probably helped the robbery,” said Banjara Hills ACP Uday Kumar Reddy.

When Agarwal came to the private guest house as he was asked to, the police officer and Naidu threatened him and robbed the cash. “During the investigation, the call records and location details pointed at the involvement of inspector Rajas-hekhar in the case. The records showed that he had been talking to Naidu on the phone. After the case was booked Rajashekhar has gone absconding and has not reported for duty,” said the ACP.

After the incident, Agarwal was not ready to file a complaint fearing investigation. But, later he came forward and the case was booked. Police officials said they would inform the I-T department about the cash exchange attempt.