HYDERABAD, OCT 9 :Police have arrested three individuals for cheating people by falsely claiming involvement in a “rice-pulling” business.Police seized net cash of Rs 25 lakhs, a copper vessel, and seven cell phones, all worth Rs 27 lakhs from their possession.

Based on credible information, the Commissioner’s Task Force, North Zone Team, Hyderabad City, along with the Mahankali Police, apprehended the accused — Pagidimarry Shiva Santhosh Kumar (43) from Secunderabad, Gulluru Manjunath Reddy (38) from Kuppam in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, and Pratap S. R. (44) from Bangalore, Karnataka — for committing the fraud, as per an official police statement on Wednesday.

The trio colluded to deceive unsuspecting individuals by promoting a fraudulent “rice-pulling” business. They fabricated a story around a copper vessel, claiming that it possessed supernatural powers capable of doubling money. The accused used this ruse to lure their victims, making them believe they could earn up to Rs 10 crore through this scheme.

Accused Manjunath Reddy established contact with the complainant, Shashikanth, through a mutual friend.

He convinced Shashikanth that the copper vessel had mystical properties, and introduced him to the concept of a “rice-pulling business” supposedly operated through a company named “Appreches and Research.”

Subsequently, Shiva Santhosh met the complainant at Minerva Grand Hotel on SD Road, Secunderabad, posing as an employee of the said company.

He informed the complainant that the quality of the copper vessel could only be tested using a special ‘Scanner,’ which is available with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Shiva Santhosh told the complainant that the scanner test would cost Rs 25 lakh.

The duo then introduced the complainant to their accomplice, Pratap S.R. Ravinder Prasad, who impersonated a DRDO scientist. Believing their story, the complainant paid Rs 25 lakhs to Shiva Santhosh on October 6 at a location near Bombay Hotel Lane, Ranigunj, Secunderabad.

However, when the accused started demanding an additional Rs 23 lakhs, the complainant grew suspicious and realized he had been duped.

Upon realizing the deceit, the complainant reported the incident to the police, leading to the trio’s arrest. The police are investigating further to determine if the accused have defrauded other individuals using similar methods.