Kadapa Police Cyber Crime Cell crushed an interstate digital arrest syndicate that extorted Rs 72.68 lakh from Badvel advocate PVN Prasad (70) between September-December 2025. Nine arrested January 14 at Hanuman Circle—including Kerala coordinator Haddhad Koya and impersonation expert Sahad Thaikandiyil—with Rs 5.5 lakh cash, 14 phones, SIMs, cheque books seized.
Certified Cyber Crime Investigator Course Launched by Centre for Police Technology
Advocate’s 3-Month Digital Imprisonment Nightmare
The scam targeted senior advocate PVN Prasad with textbook digital arrest playbook. Fraudsters impersonated police/Central agency officials using forged Supreme Court documents and continuous WhatsApp surveillance. Psychological intimidation forced 72.68 lakh transfers through multi-layered mule accounts before cryptocurrency laundering.
SP Shelke Nachiket Viswanath formed special teams under DSP G Rajendra Prasad. Intensive forensics, banking intelligence, and telecom analysis dismantled the syndicate’s financial backbone operating across Kerala-Andhra Pradesh.
Kerala Masterminds, AP Mules: Professional Crime Enterprise
Arrests included prime coordinator Haddhad Koya, impersonation strategist Sahad Thaikandiyil, corporate mule operator Gibson Gilbert, CP Prajit, Shajil Kanayi from Kerala. Andhra Pradesh locals Annapureddy Pothuraju, Bhupathi Prashanth, Mallel Dinesh, Garla Sudheer handled ground operations.
Seizures crippled operations: Rs 5.5 lakh cash, 14 smartphones, multiple SIMs, debit/credit cards, cheque books, Honda Amaze car (Kerala registration). Rs 22 crore financial ecosystem linked to mules identified and frozen.
Industrial-Scale Mule + Crypto Laundering Exposed
Investigation revealed professionally-run enterprise employing impersonation, psychological terror, video surveillance, mule account chains, crypto exchanges. Kadapa Cyber’s technical mastery traced banking trails across states, exposing cryptocurrency endgame.
All nine remanded to judicial custody. SP commended Badvel urban police and Cyber Crime Cell’s coordinated digital forensics exposing the syndicate’s sophisticated infrastructure.
Digital Arrest 2.0 Warning: AP Police Alert
Kadapa Police declared digital arrest a fraudulent concept—no legitimate agency conducts arrests/inquiries through video calls. Citizens advised to disconnect suspicious calls immediately, avoid sharing banking details, report via 1930 helpline or cybercrime.gov.in.
The bust demonstrates AP’s advancing cyber forensics capability against interstate syndicates weaponizing psychological warfare against vulnerable citizens. Certificates of appreciation awarded to investigation teams.
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.
