Srikakulam: Former church father held for duping people

Srikakulam: The Tekkali police on Saturday arrested a former church father on charges of duping people. Speaking to media here on Saturday, Superintendent of Police (SP) R N Ammi Reddy, said the accused was identified as Challa Raja Tirupati Rao of Temburu village in Pathapatnam mandal.

Challa Raja migrated to Hyderabad for livelihood where he settled as a church father and worked for about 12 years. Later he returned to his native village Temburu and was always thinking of easy earning of money.

To fulfill his dreams, the accused established Sarvadhikari Ministries Welfare Trust (SMWT) and started a real estate business and sold bikes on discount rate to those customers who paid lumpsum amount through SMWT. For those who paid lumpsum amount, he gave 30 per cent discount on the total cost of the bike.

In turn, the accused also invested the money in real estate ventures, the SP elaborated. Raja Tirupati Rao build up his business network in Tekkali, Nandigam, Santhabommali, Jalumuru, Narasannapeta, Meliaputti, Sarava Kota, Pathapatnam, Srikakulam Rural and other mandals.

Initially, the accused provided bikes to a few customers at 30 per cent discount to build confidence among them. With the good will, the accused mobilised Rs 2,19,74, 600 from customers in all mandals. Subsequently, the accused started avoiding his customers and failed to honour his assurances.

Vexed with the attitude of accused, one among the customers S Krishna Rao lodged a complaint with the Santhabommali police on November 1. After registering a case against the accused, the police conducted an inquiry and arrested the accused at his SMWT office at Balajinagar in Tekkali town, the SP said. He also said the police also seized Rs 25 lakh cash, a car worth Rs 12 lakh, two tolas gold chain, furniture worth Rs one lakh from his office during his arrest.

The SP appealed to people to provide information to the police on illegal activities of Raja Tirupati Rao to protect innocent people from the trap of the accused. He also lauded services of Tekkali and Santhabommali police for conducting accurate investigation in the case.