Hyderabad: Fraud Arrest, Fake Idol Bust, and a Swimming Champion
Hyderabad's mid-August 2026 week brought a mix of law-enforcement action and athletic achievement: the Central Crime Station closed in on a repeat offender running a property-backed loan swindle across two states, city police dismantled a gang trying to pass off a counterfeit sacred idol as genuine, and a local swimmer claimed gold at the Telangana Masters Championship.
CCS Arrests Serial Fraudster Behind Rs 1.50 Crore Loan Swindle
The Central Crime Station (CCS) arrested Nunavath Yugandhar, 34, on 15 August 2026 for allegedly cheating multiple victims by posing as a loan facilitator. According to police, Yugandhar promised one complainant financial assistance worth Rs 60 lakh and executed a sale deed along with a memorandum of understanding stating the property would not be sold. He then allegedly sold the same property to a second buyer and used it to secure a loan of approximately Rs 1.50 crore from Axis Bank, then defaulted on repayments. The complainant became aware of the fraud only after receiving a loan repayment notice from the bank. Police say Yugandhar has been involved in over 20 such cases across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and has maintained a criminal record since 2016. He is currently named in 12 similar criminal cases and faces eight additional proceedings under civil law and the Negotiable Instruments Act, which governs instruments such as cheques. The arrest marks a significant step in tackling a pattern of multi-state financial crime that victimised multiple individuals over nearly a decade. [5]
Six Held for Peddling Fake Panchaloha Idol of Goddess Lakshmi
Hyderabad police arrested six individuals on 16 August 2026 for attempting to sell a counterfeit Panchaloha idol of Goddess Lakshmi along with a stone, falsely claiming the objects carried supernatural powers. Panchaloha, a traditional alloy of five metals, is considered sacred in Hindu temple-craft, and genuine idols crafted from it can command significant prices. The suspects exploited this cultural reverence to market their fake idol to prospective buyers. The group, which included an astrologer who lent apparent credibility to claims about the objects' special properties, was apprehended at Laxmiguda in the Katedan locality of the city. Police seized incriminating material at the scene. The arrest is part of the Hyderabad police's continuing vigilance against those who exploit religious belief for financial gain. Such schemes typically target individuals seeking auspicious articles, relying on fabricated narratives around spiritual power to demand inflated sums. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway to determine whether additional members of the network remain at large. [10]
Kadiyala Kumara Swamy Takes Gold at Telangana Masters Swimming Championship
Hyderabad produced a notable sporting result when Kadiyala Kumara Swamy won the gold medal in the 50-metre butterfly event at the Telangana Masters Inter-District Swimming Championship. The competition was held at the Amberpet Swimming Complex in the city. The Masters Swimming Championship brings together competitive swimmers from across Telangana's districts, offering experienced athletes a structured platform to compete at the inter-district level. The butterfly stroke is widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding disciplines in competitive swimming, requiring exceptional coordination of arm pull, kick, and breathing under race conditions. Kumara Swamy's gold medal in the 50-metre sprint version of the event — the shortest and fastest butterfly distance — marks a strong performance under competitive pressure. The result is a moment of pride for Hyderabad's swimming community and reflects the city's continued engagement with aquatic sports at the state level. The Amberpet Swimming Complex has served as a regular host for such meets, giving Hyderabad-based athletes the advantage of competing on familiar ground while facing district rivals from across Telangana. [9]
Sources: [5] The Siasat Daily · [10] Telangana Today · [9] Telangana Today