Hyderabad Police arrested a suspended NTPC engineer who cheated public representatives and members of the public by posing as senior government official. Thota Balaji Nayudu (53) allegedly used the names of welfare and employment schemes of government to get people’s confidence and demand money from them.
Police said 43 criminal cases have been registered against Nayudu in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The arrest was made jointly by Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force (Golconda Team) and Film Nagar Police.
SUSPENDED NTPC ENGINEER ARRESTED FOR CHEATING PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES – 43 CASES REGISTERED ACROSS TELANGANA AND ANDHRA PRADESH In a major crackdown on financial fraud, #Hyderabad Police have arrested a suspended #NTPC engineer who allegedly cheated public representatives and members of the public by impersonating a senior government official. The accused has been identified as 53-year-old Thota Balaji Nayudu, who is allegedly involved in 43 criminal cases registered across #Telangana and #AndhraPradesh. The Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force, #Golconda team, along with #FilmNagar Police, jointly apprehended the accused. According to police investigations, Nayudu allegedly collected the contact details of MLAs and other public representatives from various websites. He would contact them, introduce himself as a senior #FinanceDepartment official at the #TelanganaSecretariat and gain their confidence. He allegedly misused the names of government welfare and employment schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana and Chief Minister's unemployment schemes, to demand money in the name of financial contributions towards government programmes. The accused hails from Kirlampudi village in Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada district. After completing his graduation from JNTU Kakinada, he joined NTPC Ramagundam as a Junior Engineer and was subsequently promoted to higher engineering positions. However, in 2008, he was allegedly caught in an Anti-Corruption Bureau trap, following which the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Police stated that he later began impersonating senior government officials to cheat public representatives and other individuals. In 2016, Banjara Hills Police also initiated proceedings against him under the Preventive Detention Act. According to police, 43 criminal cases have been registered against the accused in various police stations across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. These cases include allegations of cheating, impersonation, criminal intimidation and cyber fraud. The latest cases include Crime No. 505/2026 registered at Film Nagar Police Station and Crime No. 259/2026 registered at Mancherial Town Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Information Technology Act. Hyderabad Police have appealed to public representatives and citizens to remain alert and verify the identity of anyone seeking money in the name of government schemes or government departments. People have been cautioned against transferring money without verifying the authenticity of such claims.
— BNN Channel (@Bavazir_network) November 7, 2026
Investigators say that the accused had collected contact details of legislators and other public representatives from publicly available websites and contacted them (posing as a senior official in Finance Department at Telangana Secretariat).
Police said he impersonated an Additional Secretary-level government official and referred to government programmes for people to make financial contributions.
The arrest has highlighted a form of financial fraud in which criminals use names of government departments and welfare schemes to make false money requests.
How the Accused Allegedly Impersonated a Senior Government Official
Nayudu is said to have collected mobile phone numbers of MLAs and other public representatives from various websites before contacting them.
He allegedly called them while claiming to be a senior Finance Department official at the Telangana Secretariat. He was supposed to “show off” his government position by saying he was holding an important post in government so they would believe him when he asked for money.
Police said he referred to schemes like Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana and Chief Minister's unemployment schemes. He allegedly asked public representatives to contribute money for government programmes by putting requests as official financial requirements.
The use of recognised government schemes and official-sounding names was said to be part of his method of winning the confidence of potential victims.
Investigators are looking into cases related to the accused and alleged financial transactions. The police have also identified two recent cases linked to his arrest.
Who Is Thota Balaji Nayudu? His NTPC Career and Background
Thota Balaji Nayudu reportedly belongs to Kirlampudi village in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district. He did his graduation from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) Kakinada and then joined NTPC Ramagundam as Junior Engineer.
He was promoted to higher engineering positions (Assistant Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer).
However his professional career was derailed by an ACB case in 2008. Police say he got caught in ACB trap and the matter was transferred to CBI after that.
Police say he then started impersonating senior government officials to con public representatives and others.
In 2016 Banjara Hills Police also took up proceedings against him under the Preventive Detention Act.
His reported background in a public organisation and knowledge of government terminology allegedly helped him portray himself as an official when approaching victims.
Police Say 43 Cases Are Registered Across Two States
43 criminal cases have been registered against Nayudu in different police stations of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh by Hyderabad Police so far.
The cases reportedly relate to cheating, impersonation, criminal intimidation and cyber fraud.
The latest investigation has uncovered two cases related to the accused:
- Crime No. 505/2026: Registered at Film Nagar Police Station in Hyderabad under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as well as Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of Information Technology Act.
- Crime No. 259/2026: Registered at Mancherial Town Police Station under Section 318(4) of BNS and Section 66(D) Information Technology Act.
The provisions referred to are cheating, cheating by personation offences involving identity-related information and computer-based impersonation.
Police said the accused was arrested following a joint operation by Golconda Task Force and Film Nagar Police. Details of alleged transactions will be ascertained from the probe and extent to which accused is involved in registered cases will be known, police added.
43 cases were registered as the allegations reported by police are huge but each case is investigated and legal action taken.
What is Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana?
The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana is a government employment linked scheme to promote job creation and formalisation of employment.
The police said that accused allegedly referred to this scheme along with Chief Minister’s unemployment programmes when approached public representatives for money.
The case shows how the names of genuine government initiatives can be used to make fraudulent requests appear legitimate.
Government schemes have eligibility criteria, application processes and official channels of communication. People should not assume that a caller asking for money is genuine just because he/she refers to a recognised government programme or says they work in a government department.
Hyderabad Police Issue Warning to Public Representatives and Citizens
Hyderabad Police said in a statement that public representatives and citizens should be cautious when they receive calls from people claiming to represent government departments.
Police have told people to check who is asking for money in the name of government schemes or public programmes and whose official designation it is.
Citizens should also avoid transferring money to personal bank accounts based on phone calls, messages or claims of official authorisation (i.e., unsolicited transfers).
Some important precautions include:
- Check the caller’s identity through concerned government department.
- Call the department on its officially published telephone number.
- Don’t transfer money based on a caller saying he or she is in government.
- Don’t share banking details, OTPs or other sensitive information with anyone.
- Report suspicious financial demands to police or cybercrime authorities.
The arrest underscores the risks associated with impersonation fraud and misuse of publicly available contact information.
Investigation Continues After Arrest
Thota Balaji Nayudu was arrested in connection with the Hyderabad Police investigation into alleged financial fraud involving impersonation of government officials.
“There are 43 cases in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh reported so far investigators can look at what the accused allegedly did in different jurisdictions, who they contacted and financial transactions related to the cases,” she said.
The two new cases filed at Film Nagar and Mancherial have brought the issue back into focus again. Details on alleged victims, amounts involved and outcome of investigation will be known only when authorities get evidence.
Police have said citizens and public representatives should independently verify requests for money made in the name of government departments or welfare schemes.
Comments