Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Bachupally Police Book Priest, Wife in Alleged Fraud Cases
Police in Bachupally are investigating allegations of cheating against a priest, his wife and an associate.
A software professional said the priest borrowed Rs.
20 lakh in 2023 and did not repay it.
Police said the priest later went to the United States.
He was detained at an airport when he returned to India in June.
The complainant also said his identity documents were taken while he was abroad.
He alleged that signatures were forged and a bank account was opened using a fake ashram’s name.
The alleged ashram website was reportedly used to collect donations.
The priest’s wife is also being sought by police.
Bachupally police registered multiple cheating cases against priest Chamarthi Ramalatharao, his wife Prameela Rani and associate Manchikanti Venkata Raghavendra Vara Prasad.
Police allege Ramalatharao borrowed Rs. 20 lakh from software professional M. Naveen in 2023 and later left for the United States.
Ramalatharao was detained at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport after returning to India in June and was remanded to judicial custody.
Naveen also alleged that the accused stole identity documents, forged signatures and opened a bank account using a purported ashram’s name.
Police said Ramalatharao and Prameela Rani are currently absconding and that efforts are underway to locate them.
- Who
- Priest Chamarthi Ramalatharao alias Rama Sarma, his wife Prameela Rani and associate Manchikanti Venkata Raghavendra Vara Prasad are accused; M. Naveen filed the complaints.
- What
- Bachupally police registered cheating cases over an alleged unpaid loan, identity-document misuse, forged signatures and purported donation fraud.
- When
- The loan was allegedly given in 2023; Ramalatharao was detained after returning to India in June; another complaint was filed on the 27th of the previous month.
- Where
- The alleged acts involve an apartment in Pragathi Nagar, a private bank in KPHB Colony, Hyderabad, and activity spanning the United States and Hyderabad.
- Why
- Police allege the accused misused Naveen’s identity and created a purported ashram to collect donations, while a separate complaint concerns an unpaid loan.
- Police station
- Bachupally police
- Amount allegedly borrowed
- Rs. 20 lakh
- Loan year
- 2023
- Accused named
- Chamarthi Ramalatharao, Prameela Rani and Manchikanti Venkata Raghavendra Vara Prasad
- Purported institution
- Sri Gurudatta Lakshminarasimha Guruvambika Peetham
- Airport detention
- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad, after the priest returned to India in June
- Current status
- Police said Ramalatharao and Prameela Rani are absconding; the investigation is continuing