Six VDC members booked; man arrested for operating belt shop in Adilabad

Adilabad police booked six village development committee members for allegedly demanding Rs 12 lakh to allow operation of a belt shop in Barampur village. Police also arrested the shop operator and seized liquor worth Rs 3.29 lakh.

Adilabad: Six members of a village development committee (VDC) were booked on charges of extortion, while a man was arrested for allegedly operating a belt shop at Barampur village in Thalamadugu mandal on Tuesday. Police seized liquor valued at Rs 3.29 lakh from the operator of the belt shop.

Police said a case was registered against Kaslala Prathap, Mergu Ranjith Reddy, Patla Narsaiah, Mekala Bapurao, Ganesh Goud and Madhuri Mallesh. The operator of the belt shop was Chittala Venkat Reddy from Arli (K).

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During interrogation, the six confessed to demanding Rs 12 lakh to allow anyone to operate the belt shop in the village. They admitted to accepting Rs 10,000 from Venkat Reddy as an advance. Venkat Reddy revealed that he was operating the shop after being permitted by the committee members.