Released from jail, Chirala man dupes 100 on pretext of providing 2BHK govt flats

The Sanathnagar police and the special operations team, Shamshabad zone, conducted a joint operation and arrested Bommidam Kumar Babu (35) Ravi Varma and Shaik Salman (23). The duo was involved in four cases registered at Sanath Nagar and Miyapur police stations.

The police seized cash worth Rs. 37 lakh, gold ornaments worth Rs. 15 lakh, cars, mobile phones, and property papers. They also recovered fake token books, pattas, and fake housing department ID cards.

Ravi Varma, who is from Chirala Town in Prakasham district, was involved in over 13 cases under various police limits and had been jailed several times. Recently, he had started cheating people in the guise of providing double-bedroom houses under the state's Dignity Housing scheme. He used to introduce himself as the divisional manager of the Housing Society, Telangana, and collect money from them.

With the help of Salman, a photographer, Ravi used to issue fake certificates and pattas to people. He also gave them receipts in the name of the Telangana State Housing Society and issued fake pattas in the name of the revenue divisional officer. So far, the duo has cheated more than 100 people.

One of his victims lodged a complaint with the Sanath Nagar police station claiming that Ravi had introduced himself as a GHMC official in charge of the state housing board department. He promised to allot a 2BHK flat for Rs. 1,80,000 to 6,50,000 per flat. The complainant introduced others to Ravi and they also paid money for double-bedroom flats. After collecting the money, Ravi started avoiding them.

The police have requested the people to beware of fraudsters who promise to allot double-bedroom homes under the state scheme.