13 held for robbing bizman

Visakhapatnam: The Gajuwaka police arrested 13 persons, most of them anti-social elements and rowdy sheeters, for robbing Rs 17.66 lakh from a businessman belonging to Munagapaka in Vizag rural area on the pretext of exchanging old currency notes with new notes.

All were taken into custody late on Friday night, except Rs 10,000 entire cash was recovered from them.

The arrested persons were identified as P Vijay Bhaskar (prime accused in the case), Pyla Prakash, A Hari, G Janaki Ramudu, Gantyada Ashok, G Rajesh, Choppa Hemant, P Krishna, Pitta Vishnu, K Praveen Kumar, Oduru Venkatesh, B Manikanta and P Gowri Shankar-all residents of Gajuwaka.

Disclosing the details of the case, DCP (crime) T Ravi Kumar Murthy said Yellapu Nageswara Lova Raju lodged a complaint with Gajuwaka police on December 24 stating that 13 persons made him visit Jaggu centre at Gajuwaka for exchanging old cash with new currency notes for 10 per cent commission, but instead snatched his cash bag containing Rs 17,66,000 and some cheques.

Lova Raju said the entire cash belonged to his brother-in-law, who is a distributor of water bottles, soap and soft drinks.

During the last week of November, his brother-in-law left for Sabarimala on pilgrimage and left the cash with him.

One Mallikarjun, who came to know about the cash, called him over phone and offered new currency in exchange for old cash and asked for 10 per cent commission.

After the deal was struck, Mallikarjun again called Lova Raju and instructed him to reach Jaggu centre where his associates Govind, Ramaraju and Mohammed will meet him with new currency.

Accordingly the complainant Lova Raju, his brother Prakash and friends B Satish and Yellapu Seetharam reached Jaggu centre in the evening.

At about 7.30 pm, 12 persons came on two wheelers, auto-rickshaw and attacked the complainant and his friends and took away the cash bag.

Lova Raju immediately lodged a complaint. The police launched a man-hunt for the offenders and finally nabbed all the 13 persons on Friday night and seized cash, a car, one motorcycle and an autorickshaw, the DCP added.