In a significant breakthrough, Sangareddy police have dismantled a criminal operation accused of stealing Palladium on Carbon (PdC), a rare and expensive catalyst essential in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The police arrested six individuals and recovered PdC valued at approximately Rs4.5 crore.
Superintendent of Police Chennuri Rupesh briefed the media on Thursday, identifying Allam Sambasivudu as the leader of the group. Having worked in pharmaceutical companies in the past, Sambasivudu used his industry knowledge to orchestrate a series of thefts. After relocating to Hyderabad, he continued to steal and sell the valuable PdC.
The gang gained access to pharmaceutical warehouses by establishing connections with store managers who helped them steal the material. In one case, on February 8, the group allegedly stole 110 kg of wet PdC and 55 kg of dry PdC from Arena Life Sciences in Yavapur, within the jurisdiction of Sadasivpet police. The store manager, Tumma Mukkanti Reddy, is believed to have facilitated the theft.
Following a complaint from the company, authorities launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of the suspects at Maddikunta Crossroad on Wednesday. Further inquiries revealed that the gang had previously stolen PdC worth ₹35 lakh from a pharmaceutical company in Gummadidala, and 8 kg from another firm in IDA Bollaram. Investigators also linked the group to similar crimes in Bidar and Gujarat.
Among those arrested are Sambasivudu, Prasad, Aditya Ankush, Mukkanti Reddy, Matta Kutumba Rao, and Gummadi Srinivas Rao. However, five more individuals involved in the operation remain at large. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to apprehend the remaining suspects.
