‘Rice-pulling’ vessel scam: man duped of ₹13 lakh

The Sri Sathya Sai police on Sunday (February 22) arrested a person on charges of cheating and criminal intimidation after he allegedly duped a Talupula resident by promising to make him a so-called “rice-pulling” copper vessel.

Addressing the media at the Kadiri rural police station, Deputy SP Shiva Narayanaswamy said the accused, identified as Chintakunta Krishna Reddy alias D.K. Babu (44) of Talupula mandal, claimed he possessed special skills to make a copper vessel with mystical properties and told the complainant it could be sold in the market for ₹2 crore.

Believing the claims, the complainant allegedly paid ₹10 lakh in instalments during June and July 2025. When he later demanded a refund, the accused allegedly threatened him, confined him at his house, allegedly extorted ₹3 lakh in cash.

Based on the complaint, the Talupula police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted an SUV near Tanakallu and arrested the accused. Cash, mobile phones, the vehicle and some copper vessels were seized.