V M Banjar police in Khammam district arrested 18 people in a major cyber fraud case involving transactions worth ₹547 crore linked to fraudulent call centres based abroad. Police said the main accused, Potru Manoj Kalyan of Sathupalli town, was arrested and sent to remand. Police said the accused induced multiple individuals to open bank accounts under the guise of employment, business opportunities and monetary incentives, then used those accounts to receive, transfer and launder cyber fraud proceeds, including converting part of the money into cryptocurrency. Police said efforts were underway to nab six more accused who were at large.