The district of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh witnessed a concerning uptick in overall criminal activity during 2025, with official data revealing a 7.5% increase in the total crime rate compared to the previous year. The police registered a total of 4,712 cases this year, a notable rise from the 4,381 cases documented in 2024.
Mixed Trends: Violent Crimes Down, Financial Fraud Up
Presenting the annual crime report, Nellore Superintendent of Police Ajitha Vejendla highlighted a significant reduction in certain violent crimes. The district recorded a sharp 37.5% decline in murders for gain and a 13% drop in overall murder cases in 2025 compared to 2024.
However, this positive development was offset by a substantial surge in financially motivated and cyber offences. White-collar crimes jumped from 357 cases in 2024 to 457 cases in 2025. Similarly, cyber crime cases increased from 85 last year to 101 this year. Property offences also rose, from 816 in 2024 to 899 in 2025.
Poor Recovery Rate in Cyber Frauds & Rise in Road Accidents
The financial impact of cyber crime in Nellore proved severe, with recovery efforts yielding minimal results. Police managed to recover only Rs 1.07 crore out of a massive total of Rs 23.57 crore swindled through various online frauds and cyber crimes in the district during the year.
Adding to the law and order challenges, the district also experienced a 10% increase in road accidents. The number of registered road accident cases climbed to 928 in 2025 from 843 in 2024.
Police Response: PD Act & Crackdown on Ganja Smuggling
In response to the spike in overall crimes, the Nellore police adopted stringent measures. Authorities invoked the Preventive Detention (PD) Act against 16 repeat offenders to curb habitual criminal activity.
Furthermore, as part of a dedicated drive against the rampant ganja smuggling menace in the region, police made significant strides in 2025. They arrested 101 persons in connection with 34 cases under the NDPS Act. The crackdown led to the seizure of 510 kg of ganja and 14 vehicles used for smuggling operations.
The annual crime data paints a complex picture for Nellore district, where successes in reducing violent crime are being challenged by the rapid growth of digital and financial offences, necessitating evolving strategies from law enforcement.
