Telangana’s Khammam police have cracked open a monstrous cyber fraud syndicate that laundered nearly ₹550 crore through a web of mule bank accounts, fake call centers, and crypto conversions over three years. Triggered by a single victim’s complaint, the probe netted 18 arrests including key operators from Sathupalli, exposing ties to international gangs scamming victims via sham investments, matrimony ruses, gaming bets, and reward point cons. With six fugitives on the run and ₹270 crore+ traced to one family’s accounts alone, Commissioner Sunil Dutt vows to chase every rupee and overseas link.
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Victim’s Complaint Ignites Massive Probe
The house of cards tumbled after Saikiran from Tumburu village in Sathupalli mandal filed a December 24, 2025, complaint at V.M. Banjar station, detailing his duping by local fraudsters. Police dove deep, unearthing a sprawling network that weaponized unemployed youth’s bank accounts with false job and commission lures. Potru Manoj Kalyan, the prime accused from Sathupalli, was already in judicial custody when leads snowballed to 17 more nabbed Sunday, painting a picture of systematic laundering from 2022-2025 pan-India scams.
This wasn’t small-time: Cyber Crime Portal data flagged hundreds of complaints against these exact accounts, linking to overseas call centers fleecing Australians and others through Madhapur fake ops busted in late 2025.
Kingpin Praveen and Core Crew Unmasked
Investigators zeroed in on Potru Praveen as the shadowy kingpin, flanked by Udathaneni Vikas Chowdary, Potru Praveen duplicates in reports, and Morampdu Chenna Keshava—all Khammam natives running the show. These operators sweet-talked locals into “business opportunities,” then hijacked accounts for fraud inflows from global cons like crypto trading traps, share market mirages, and online betting hooks. Praveen’s Madhapur center alone rerouted ₹10 crore from Aussie victims before Cyberabad cops nabbed him November 2025, sparking Saikiran’s bold FIR.
Commissioner Dutt, briefing media at V.M. Banjar, detailed the syndicate’s sophistication: Funds ping-ponged across mules, with chunks morphed into untraceable cryptocurrency to dodge radars.
Staggering Money Haul: Family Accounts Overflow
Raids and bank drills exposed obscene flows through accused-linked ledgers, totaling ₹549.95 crore in suspicious transactions:
- Potru Manoj Kalyan: ₹114.18 crore—personal jackpot from layered launders.
- Wife Bhanupriya (aka Medha Bhanu Priya): ₹45.62 crore across two accounts, family affair in crime.
- Brother-in-law M. Satish (aka Medha Sateesh): Massive ₹135.48 crore, the network’s cash cow.
- Nagalakshmi: ₹81.72 crore parked slyly.
- Tatikonda Raju (Karimnagar): ₹92.54 crore inflow.
- Vikas Chowdary: ₹80.41 crore, core member’s cut.
Over ₹270 crore funneled via Manoj’s clan alone, with crypto conversions hiding the rest—classic playbook mirroring Delhi-NCR gangs busted last year.
International Links and Evolving Tactics Exposed
Dutt revealed overseas call centers as the fraud fountainhead, preying on desperate Indians with “easy money” pitches while piping dirty cash home. Scams spanned matrimony mirages, reward scams, gaming glitches, and crypto cons, evolving post-2025 crackdowns. Absconding six include probable higher-ups; special teams hunt them, probing global operatives and more mules. This bust echoes 2025’s Operation Storm Makers, where 500+ accounts froze ₹1,000 crore nationwide.
Public Warnings and Next Moves
Khammam cops flood airwaves with alerts: Shun unsolicited job gigs demanding bank access, verify via official portals, report via 1930 helpline. “These networks morph fast—stay vigilant,” Dutt stressed, as probes widen to accomplices and victim refunds. With 24 total named accused, expect more cuffs; this ₹550 crore takedown signals Telangana’s zero-tolerance cyber war, shielding millions from digital sharks.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
