2 held, Rs 84 lakh ornaments seized in Srikakulam

Visakhapatnam: The Etcherla police arrested two criminals involved in a series of gold thefts across multiple police jurisdictions, recovering gold ornaments worth Rs 84,44,800 from their possession.

The accused, identified as Punnana Rambabu (30) and Gidijala Koteswara Rao (33), were apprehended on Sunday near Akkivalasa Koudali in Etcherla mandal while riding a scooter. The arrests came following an investigation into a theft reported at the Etcherla police station, where gold ornaments had been stolen from a household on January 7.

The investigation revealed a complex criminal operation spanning multiple police jurisdictions, including Etcherla, Laveru, Srikakulam, Gara, Ponduru, Polaki, and Visakhapatnam City. The total value of stolen property amounted to Rs 91,41,300, with the police recovering property worth Rs 84,44,800.

Prime accused, Rambabu, is a former cricket aspirant who received training in Vijayawada. He started criminal activities after facing disappointment in his sporting career, police said. Police records show he was previously involved in 30 cases in various districts, including Guntur, Vijayawada, and Vizianagaram. The accused was released from Visakhapatnam Central Jail on January 10, 2024 and resumed his criminal activities, police said.

According to the police, Rambabu befriended co-accused, Koteswara Rao, in prison to dispose of the stolen property through various finance companies. The operation involved pledging stolen gold ornaments at private finance companies.