Hyderabad: Even the belief of Amavasya, a new moon day considered inauspicious in the Hindu calendar to start any work, couldn’t help the victim Chaitanya Pannala from falling prey to the sinister plan. It just delayed the inevitable. The 36-year-old landowner became the victim of an elaborate Rs 50 lakh extortion scheme orchestrated by three individuals under the guise of managing 'HYDRAA'.

The Pahadi Sharief Police have registered a criminal case following a complaint filed by Puppala Thirumal, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), Charminar Zone, against three individuals for allegedly cheating a woman of Rs 50 lakh by falsely promising to resolve a land dispute in her favour using influence within the government agency.

The accused have been identified as Praveen (the victim’s cousin), Sunkari Naresh (a legal advisor for a YouTube channel), and Chandu Srinivas. A case has been booked under the relevant section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Background of the Fraud

Going further into the case details, the matter came to light when the victim, Chaitanya Pannala, a resident of Hayathnagar in Ranga Reddy district, approached the HYDRAA Commissioner on June 19, 2025. She reported that Vertex Developers had illegally constructed a 150-foot road through her open land measuring 7 acres and 15 guntas in Mankhal Village, Maheshwaram Mandal.

The Commissioner assigned ACP Thirumal to inquire into the matter. During the investigation, a more sinister plot emerged, one of extortion and impersonation rather than mere encroachment.

How the scam unfolded

The complainant discussed the encroachment issue with her cousin Praveen. Subsequently, he introduced his friend Sunkari Naresh as he is a legal advisor for a YouTube channel and he will take care of everything. She believed him and disclosed the entire episode. Accordingly, the said Naresh told her that he has got a friend by the name of Chandu Srinivas, who has a good connection with HYDRAA officials. 

In turn, Chandu Srinivas also interacted with her over the phone and assured her that he would manage everything at the HYDRAA office. Later, Naresh informed her that no one at the HYDRAA office was willing to take up the matter without being paid. He told her that if she wanted the work to be done, it would require a cash payment. He also claimed to know officials working at HYDRAA and assured her that Naresh could get the job done immediately through his friend Chandu Srinivas.

The sinister plot went like this, “In the 2nd week of June, Praveen went to her office at Madhapur and took the cash of 20 lakhs rupees from her by saying he would hand it over to Sunkari Naresh. In the last week of June 2025, the said Sunkari Naresh went to her house located near Vertex Venture at Mankhal village of Maheshwaram Mandal and asked her to pay the remaining payment of Rs. 30 lakhs. But, she postponed giving him the money due to Amavasya. On the following day, Sunkari Naresh sent a person to her house to collect the money. At this time, she made a phone call to him and confirmed that the person who came to her house was sent by him only. On believing this, she handed over the total cash of Rs. 30 lakhs to him,” narrated the compalaint.

HYDRAA Official fles comaplaint

ACP Thirumal, in his complaint, emphasized that the accused not only deceived Ms. Pannala of Rs 50 lakh but also attempted to tarnish the reputation of HYDRAA by falsely claiming that its officials could be bribed to influence outcomes.

The Pahadi Sharief Police Station under Rachakonda Commissionerate had booked the individuals Praveen, Sunkari Naresh, and Chandu Srinivas, who not only deceived the woman by taking Rs. 50 lakhs from her but also attempted to defame the name of HYDR AA by falsely claiming that her issue would be resolved in exchange for payment to HYDRAA officials.