Hyderabad: A former cricketer, who has played in the Andhra Pradesh under-23 Ranji Trophy team, was arrested by the Detective Department of Hyderabad Police on charges of duping a businessman of Rs. 3.3 lakh after introducing himself as a personal assistant to IT Minister KT Rama Rao.
According to the police, B Nagaraju of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, had called the chairman and managing director of a private firm over phone and introduced himself as Tirupati, personal assistant to the IT Minister.
“Nagaraju convinced the businessman that a cricket player from Andhra Pradesh was selected for the Under 25 World Cup to be held in England and asked him to sponsor his cricket kit and tour. He convinced him saying the logo of the company would be displayed on the kit, which would be handed over to the cricketer by the Minister himself. Believing him, the victim transferred the money to the bank account furnished by Nagaraju,” said Avinash Mohanty, Joint Commissioner of Police (Detective Department).
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Nagaraju used to call business houses and talk to the top people there introducing himself as the personal assistant of various ministers and in the name of sponsoring cricket kits, cheated several people, the police said, adding that he was involved in several cases in AP and Telangana. He had previously played for in the Ranji Trophy for the AP U-23 team, police said.
Nagaraju was produced before court and remanded in judicial custody.