More cops sent to vacancy reserve for alleged links with accused in AP’s honeytrap racket case

Tirupati: The investigation into the honeytrap extortion racket has picked up steam following the arrest of the key accused, Rangamma Naidu, and her four accomplices recently. While Anantapur III Town police inspector Rajendranath Yadav and Raptadu police inspector Sri Harsha, alleged to have links with the extortion gang, were already shunted out to vacancy reserve, the role of several other police personnel has also come under the radar.According to sources, six police personnel in the rank of head constable and constable were found to have links to the extortion gang, and they are all being sent to vacancy reserve. Anantapur rural DSP T Srinivasulu said Rangamma and her associates, who started their activities about eight months ago, are believed to have extorted about ₹1 crore by trapping over 20 unsuspecting persons and blackmailing them. The racket came to light after one of the victims lodged a complaint with the police, which led to the arrests of Rangamma and her four associates.Meanwhile, a local YSRCP leader has been taken into custody for questioning after investigation revealed that the gang used to get a list of influential and financially well-off persons from this leader. The probe also found that a few police personnel connived with the gang and threatened some of the victims to back off from lodging complaints. Allegations have also surfaced that some police personnel even went to the extent of mediating in support of the gang when the victims refused to pay the extortion money.