Cop with Naidu, 7 others duped of Rs 2 cr in AP land fraud case

Hyderabad: A promise of massive returns from prime Andhra land has triggered a criminal investigation in Hyderabad, after a constable on VIP security duty and others alleged they were swindled of nearly Rs 2 crore in a deal that collapsed following alleged suicide of the accused.Central crime station (CCS) in Hyderabad launched the investigation following a complaint by a police constable who alleged that he and seven others were duped by a woman who promised high returns from a land investment in Andhra Pradesh.
The complainant, Shaik Vali, 39, is a constable from the 2nd Battalion of Andhra Pradesh Special Police, Kurnool. Vali told police that since 2017 he had been deployed on protection duty at the Hyderabad residence of Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Recently, he was posted as personal security officer to AP law minister Mohammed Farooq. In July 2023, he came in contact with the accused, Addepally Lakshmi, who used to visit the premises. Vali said Lakshmi claimed herself as TDP activist. High returns' promiseLakshmi allegedly claimed she owned four acres in Mangalagiri, asserting that each acre could fetch Rs 10 crore. Citing the need for quick funds for development and permissions, she sought Rs 5 lakh at 2% monthly interest. Vali said he initially transferred Rs 1 lakh via UPI in June 2023 and, lured by the promise of high returns, continued to send money in instalments, eventually paying Rs 29 lakh. Lakshmi later introduced him to vegetable trader M Mallesh and some purported bank officials who claimed she held a Rs 25 crore fixed deposit, allegedly to instil confidence among investors. Between July 2023 and July 2025, Vali, Mallesh and six others together paid her over Rs 1.99 crore. "She initally paid small amounts towards interest but later stopped the payments. Mallesh and I confronted Lakshmi at her Chintal Basti residence in July 2025. She, along with her brother Srinivas and sons Mohan and Venkatesh, promised settlement within two months," the complainant told police. Suicide by accusedVali later learnt that Lakshmi allegedly died by consuming pesticide in an agricultural field at Peddakakani in Guntur district on Nov 10, 2025. A case of suspicious death was registered by local police. "We came to know that large portions of the money collected from us by Lakshmi had been transferred to bank accounts belonging to her sons and a man identified as Suresh. They cheated us in collusion with Lakshmi by not returning the amount. Initiate apropriate legal action," Vali complained.Based on the complaint, CCS police registered a case on Feb 10 under sections 318(4) (cheating) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. "We sought evidence from the complainant about money transactions with the accused. Based on the evidence gathered during the preliminary probe, we will proceed further with the investigation," a CCS official said.