Hyderabad, October 29, 2025
In a shocking breach of police protocol, businessman Satish Vuppalapati, the prime accused in a high-profile ₹23 crore investment fraud case, escaped from custody while being transported back to Hyderabad from Maharashtra, triggering a statewide manhunt across Telangana. The daring getaway, which occurred during a routine stop for refreshments, has exposed glaring lapses in security and raised suspicions of internal collusion, with authorities probing whether the fugitive was deliberately aided in his flight.
The 45-year-old Vuppalapati, a self-styled infrastructure magnate, allegedly orchestrated a Ponzi-like scheme between 2019 and 2022, luring investors with promises of lucrative returns through two dubious private companies. Among the victims was Dr. P. Vinay Kumar, a prominent surgical gastroenterologist and son of veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Shiva Shankar, who was swindled out of a staggering ₹15.2 crore. Other duped investors include entrepreneur K. Padma, who lost ₹6.5 crore, and businessman Faraan Shafee Rokadia, cheated of ₹1.3 crore. Vuppalapati and his associates, including Shilpa Banda, are accused of siphoning off the funds via a web of shell companies, ceasing payments abruptly in January 2023.
The fraud came to light after desperate investors confronted the accused, only to face threats. A key associate, Prasen Kumar, confessed to the scam but died under mysterious circumstances on April 24, 2023, while hospitalized for suspected poisoning. Vuppalapati allegedly warned victims of a similar fate if they pursued legal recourse, escalating the case into one of coercion and intimidation. A formal complaint was lodged on September 18, 2025, invoking Sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) and 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside provisions of the Telangana Protection of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act.
Task Force police, acting on leads, apprehended Vuppalapati in Maharashtra last week and initiated his transit by road to Hyderabad for interrogation. The escape unfolded en route on Tuesday afternoon: During a brief halt at Sadashivpet for food, the accused slipped away from the watch of a lone Sub-Inspector (SI) escorting him. His escort vehicle was later discovered abandoned on a remote stretch in Kollapur, Nagarkurnool district, about 150 km from the capital, fueling theories of a pre-planned breakout.
"We are mounting an all-out operation to recapture the absconder. Teams have been deployed across districts, airports, and border checkposts, with alerts issued to neighboring states," a senior Task Force officer told reporters, declining to be named. The probe has widened to scrutinize potential foul play within the force, with whispers of Vuppalapati's family shelling out lakhs to a cop for his release. "Once we arrest the accused, a detailed inquiry will be conducted to see if he was deliberately let off," the officer added, underscoring the department's commitment to transparency amid mounting public outrage.
Dr. Vinay Kumar, expressed dismay but resolve: "This man not only stole our hard-earned money but toyed with our lives. His escape is an affront to justice, but we trust the police to bring him to book swiftly. My father served the nation with integrity; it's heartbreaking to see such betrayal in his name." Padma echoed the sentiment, calling for a thorough audit of investment firms to prevent similar scams.
The incident has ignited a political storm, with opposition leaders slamming the state government for "lax policing" and demanding the SI's immediate suspension. Telangana Home Minister Anjumula Revanth Reddy convened an emergency review meeting, vowing "zero tolerance for custodial lapses" and enhanced protocols for high-risk transports. As the manhunt intensifies—with Vuppalapati's photos plastered across media and CCTV footage from toll plazas under analysis—the case serves as a stark reminder of the perils lurking in unregulated investment schemes, leaving a trail of shattered dreams in its wake.
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