Fake swamy held, gold seized

West Zone police arrested a fake Swami, who allegedly cheated several people of lakhs promising to double their money and gold through magic.

Police recovered 1.5 kg gold and `40 lakh from him. The suspect allegedly drugged his victims during rituals, and looted their gold and money, police said.

Neduri Srinu, 39, belonging to Gandepalli in East Godavari district, is involved in 11 fraud cases across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

“He convinces devotees about his superhuman powers to double cash and gold. He used to perform some pooja, and ask them to bring the gold and cash. Then he makes them take drinks laced with sleeping pills. When the victims become dizzy he would take their gold and cash and flee,” said west zone DCP A. Venkateswara Rao.

When Srinu goes to a house he invites people there to the lodge he stays. He cheated one victim calling him to a lodge in Panjagutta.

“He drugged the family, collected gold from their body and cash. He escaped from there and went to Varanasi, Madurai etc,” said Mr Rao.

Srinu also cheats victims telling then that they have a bad omen in their families. He invites the victims for a pilgrimage with him, and take them to different temples.

Then he used to drug them at the temples and escape with the loot, police said.

Police found Srinu had been expelled by his family. He started his business in 2011 and was arrested in 2013.

After release, he started it again. He was sent to judicial custody.