In a significant development, the Hyderabad police arrested Mettu Venkateshwarlu, a former senior financial operational analyst at the Amazon Development Centre (ADC) in Gachibowli, for embezzling Rs 3.2 crore over the course of eight years.
Venkateshwarlu, who was responsible for managing payroll activities for Amazon employees, used his position to divert funds into personal accounts. Police allege that he created forged emails and manipulated bank statement files to settle dues of former employees.
According to the police, Venkateshwarlu identified outstanding payments owed to former Amazon employees that had been pending for an extended period. Taking advantage of this, he altered the bank account details of these employees and redirected payments into accounts belonging to his friends and relatives. In total, he is accused of transferring Rs 3.2 crore into 50 different bank accounts.
The fraud was carried out under the guise of settling the “full and final” payments of 184 ex-employees. The police are continuing their investigation to identify Venkateshwarlu’s accomplices, as well as to trace any further misappropriated funds.
This case highlights the vulnerabilities within corporate financial systems, where employees with access to sensitive payroll information can exploit their positions for personal gain. The authorities are intensifying efforts to apprehend other individuals involved in the scheme.