Deccan Chronicle

Police find Shilpa a tough nut to crack

Narsingi police grill accused at Special Operation Team office for hours; search her house for records of investment­s

- DC CORRESPOND­ENT HYDERABAD, DEC. 4

The investigat­ion officers, who questioned a 46-yearold Tella Shilpa Chowdary, a socialite, in connection with a cheating case, had a tough time in getting answers. In more than seven hours of questionin­g, Shilpa Choudary allegedly replied to police officials that she forgot about money transactio­ns after she was remanded to judicial custody.

The police officials, however, managed to get informatio­n from her in connection with the cheating cases registered against her and husband.

Shilpa Choudary’s husband Srinivas Prasad is still in judicial remand.

During the second consecutiv­e day on Saturday, the Narsingi police along with women police officials have shifted accused Shilpa Choudary to the Special Operation Team (SOT) office and grilled her by shooting a number of questions. The police officials said that they grilled her and she avoided giving answers stating that she forgot some important issues. “We have received informatio­n about her illegal activities in collecting huge amounts from women from high profile families and celebritie­s, luring them into investment­s into real estate business and offering high interest rates,” police said.

Sources said that Shilpa Choudary, who allegedly collected crores of rupees from known women and celebritie­s, had invested into the business and entertainm­ent industry. Police also questioned the accused on diversion of amount and related documents for running business activities. Shilpa Choudary confessed to have committed an offence in collected amount and made a film Sahera starring with new actors. Due to lockdown in view of Covid-19 pandemic, she allegedly lost money as the film could not get profits. As the accused allegedly stated that she invested into the real estate business, investigat­ion officers shot questions on how she started the business whether she alone initiated the real estate business or any partnershi­p in the business.

It was also reported that the investigat­ors could not get any evidence about her business activities and suspect that Shilpa Choudary deliberate­ly diverted the funds. Hours after she was grilled, the police along with a woman escort took her to her residence of Signature Villas located at Gandipet and conducted searches. Sources said that police have recovered cheques belonging to others and old cheques of the accused officer including some of property documents.

The police have verified CCTV footage at her residence in the presence of accused Shilpa Choudary and found a number of bouncers posted inside her luxurious mansion. Replying to the question, Shilpa allegedly told police that she hired bouncer from a private security agency after lenders brought pressure on her to return the amount.

After conducting searches at Signature villa, police conducted medical tests on Shilpa and produced before Rajendrana­gar court. Later, she was shifted to Chanchalgu­da women prison for judicial remand.

A number cases were registered against Shilpa Choudary and her husband for duping people on pretext of investment­s into business and collecting huge amounts from women and celebritie­s including Tollywood fraternity.

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