Rice Pulling Scam in Eluru: 17 Investors Duped of Rs 1.60 Crore with Alien & NASA Claims
In a bizarre case of financial fraud, several individuals in Eluru district have allegedly been cheated in the name of 'rice pulling' and so-called space powers. The elaborate scam, which has left victims reeling, involved promises of earning crores of rupees through mystical means and extraterrestrial connections.
The Modus Operandi: Magical Rice and Cosmic Connections
The prime accused, identified as Dachepalli Srinivas, a resident of Nuzvidu, allegedly lured gullible investors with extraordinary claims. He presented himself as a film producer with international links, convincing victims that he had connections with NASA and access to alien technology.
The central premise of the scam revolved around 'rice pulling' - the alleged ability of special rice to attract precious metals through supernatural or technological means. Srinivas, with the assistance of his brother-in-law Repani Prasanna Kumar, who worked as a pastor, painted a picture of immense wealth generation through this mysterious process.
How the Victims Were Ensnared
The accused employed a sophisticated approach to gain the trust of their targets:
- Prasanna Kumar, leveraging his position as a pastor, introduced 17 individuals to Srinivas, portraying him as a well-connected film industry figure with international reach.
- Srinivas took some victims to Hyderabad to bolster his credibility, where he reinforced claims about his NASA connections.
- The duo allegedly convinced investors that alien technology and NASA-backed innovations would multiply their investments exponentially.
- Victims were promised returns of crores of rupees in exchange for investments ranging from lakhs of rupees.
Believing these extraordinary claims, victims began investing money starting from 2016, eventually contributing a total of Rs 1.60 crore to what they believed was a legitimate opportunity.
The Unraveling of the Scheme
The scam began to collapse when Dachepalli Srinivas allegedly stopped responding to calls from the victims after collecting their money. This radio silence raised immediate red flags among the investors, who had been expecting updates on their promised returns.
One of the victims, also named Srinivas, eventually filed a formal complaint with the Nuzvidu police, bringing the entire scheme to light. The complaint detailed how they had been misled by promises of magical rice with metal-attracting properties and connections to space agencies.
Police Investigation Underway
Nuzvidu police inspector Satya Srinivas confirmed that Dachepalli Srinivas and Repani Prasanna Kumar are brothers-in-law and are the primary suspects in this case. The police have registered a case and are investigating from all angles, including probing the potential involvement of others who might have facilitated the alleged cheating.
Authorities are examining how the accused managed to convince so many people to part with substantial sums of money based on such extraordinary claims. The investigation will likely focus on financial trails, communication records, and the specific mechanisms used to perpetrate what appears to be a carefully orchestrated fraud.
This case highlights the vulnerability of investors to unconventional investment schemes that promise extraordinary returns through mysterious or pseudoscientific means. As the investigation progresses, more details are expected to emerge about how this 'rice pulling' scam managed to ensnare 17 individuals over several years.
