A Sub-Inspector assigned to the Special Branch in Telangana's Mulugu district has been arrested for allegedly facilitating the distribution of spurious cotton seeds valued at approximately Rs 20 lakh in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district, law enforcement officials announced. The officer reportedly collected a commission of Rs 100 for every kilogram of seeds sold.
According to Asifabad Superintendent of Police Nithika Pant, the accused officer, Segyam Venkatesh, was taken into custody at his home on October 12 and subsequently brought before a local court, which ordered him into judicial custody.
Police inquiries indicated that Venkatesh connected Sheikh Salman, an individual residing in Bheemini, with A Venugopal Reddy, a merchant originating from Rajanna Sircilla district, to enable the unlawful trade. The illicit partnership was established during the preceding cotton season, with the law enforcement official promised financial kickbacks based on sales volume.
Investigators stated that Venugopal Reddy delivered roughly 40 quintals, amounting to 4,000 kilograms, of counterfeit cotton seeds across three separate shipments to Salman, backed by the Sub-Inspector's alleged indirect support. Out of the total delivery, about 35 quintals were distributed via middlemen, while the remaining five quintals were kept at a poultry farm located in Nennel mandal.
The operation was uncovered on August 11 when local police and agriculture department personnel stopped a vehicle in Asifabad, recovering roughly two quintals of suspected fake cotton seeds distributed across four bags.
Salman and Venugopal Reddy, who were actively moving the cargo, were detained and sent to judicial custody. Under questioning, both suspects allegedly revealed Venkatesh's participation in the scheme. Detectives subsequently reviewed their statements, phone records, and additional documentation before officially designating the Sub-Inspector as the third suspect in the file.
Authorities noted that Venkatesh previously worked as a task force Sub-Inspector within the district, which was when he initially met Salman during an earlier counterfeit seed investigation. He was later reassigned to Mulugu district in February 2026 and was stationed in its Special Branch unit when the arrest occurred.