Scribe accused of extortion, blackmailing arrested in Telangana’s Nalgonda

Anand Kumar, along with his associates, allegedly indulged in blackmailing their victims by exposing them in a digital newspaper

Nalgonda: The Nalgonda police on Tuesday arrested Anand Kumar, a journalist suspected to be the mastermind behind a string of extortions targeting government officials and businessmen.

Two of his accomplices, Thuppari Raghu and Peraboina Anjaneyulu, were previously arrested by the Miryalaguda police. Anand Kumar, along with his associates, allegedly indulged in blackmailing their victims by exposing them in a digital newspaper (Crime Mirror Digital Paper).

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They allegedly extorted Rs 90,000 from Kompalli Matsyagiri, a former assistant statistical officer at the District Medical and Health Office in Nalgonda, by threatening to expose him through their columns.

Even after paying the amount, Matsyagiri continued to receive threats and demands for more money. He lodged a complaint with the One Town police in Nalgonda.

DSP K Siva Rama Reddy who led the investigation, arrested Anand Kumar, seized his mobile phone, and produced him before court, which remanded him in judicial custody. A case was filed against the accused under various sections of the IPC and the SCs/STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act-2015.

Using a similar modus operandi, the accused had extorted Rs 2 lakh from Veerababu, CI of Miryalaguda Rural.

The police have been receiving complaints from victims within the district and elsewhere, officials said. Further investigation is on.