'Extortionist' stirs a hornet's nest

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 17. The arrest of a man, often seen in the company of some senior police officers, on charges of trying to extort huge amounts of money from retired and serving Government officials, stirred a hornet's nest on Friday night.

The alleged extortionist, Srinivas, who hails from Warangal district was stated to have confessed to collecting over Rs. 50 lakhs from different officials during last two years. It is believed that the collected amount could be still higher since not many cases of extortions by him were reported.

According to highly placed sources, some senior IPS officers used all their might to prevent Srinivas from being booked under extortion charges. The role of another officer of the rank of an Additional SP in trying to help Srinivas was also being investigated.

Srinivas (33), a resident of Mahabubabad, was alleged to have called up Government officials against whom charges were levelled and demanded money by posing himself as secretary of North Telangana Special Zone Committee (NTSZC) of the PWG. Many officers reportedly paid hefty sums during the last two years. The activities of Srinivas came to light when one of the officials approached a senior officer and a trap was laid with the help of Task Force personnel.

Sources say Srinivas sent his associate, Krishna Murthy, to collect money from an unnamed official near Vijayanagar Colony. The plainclothes policemen who lay in wait overpowered him as he came to collect the money. Krishna Murthy, when questioned, spilled the beans and told police officers that he was working at the behest of Srinivas who was residing in Uppal area.

A police team rushed to Uppal but Srinivas could not be found there. When he was contacted on his mobile, Srinivas was reportedly in the company of an Additional SP in Bowenpally area and the police officer, it was stated, offered to mediate so that charges against Srinivas could be dropped. However, when the Task Force personnel did not give in, two senior IPS officers were reported to have contacted their counterparts seeking to intervene on behalf of Srinivas. But their attempts proved futile, as the Commissioner of Police, Mr. P. Ramulu, decided to play it straight and arrest Srinivas and Murthy.

Sources disclosed that Srinivas was arrested on similar charges on four earlier occasions in the city. During one such arrest, he was handed over to Balanagar Sub-Division officials for registration of a regular case, but no such action was taken. Srinivas, highly placed sources disclosed, had spent huge amounts to air-condition every room of his house in Uppal and in buying a luxury car.

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Section  : Southern States
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