Suraram: Suraram police have arrested a man who stole a mobile phone from a hospital patient and illegally transferred a large sum of money through UPI, officials said. The incident occurred at Narayana Mallareddy Hospital, where the patient was undergoing treatment.

On the early morning of January 7, Praveen Kumar, a patient at the hospital, reported that his mobile phone had been stolen. The thief then used the UPI app on the phone to transfer around Rs 8 lakh from the victim’s account. Acting on the complaint, Suraram police registered a case and began a detailed investigation.

The police crime team reviewed CCTV footage and analyzed bank transactions using technical evidence to identify the suspect. He was traced to Burada Adi Narayana, 34, from Kavidipalli village in Medak district, and taken into custody. The authorities recovered the stolen phone and Rs 6.73 lakh in cash, bringing the total recovered value to approximately Rs 7 lakh.

The suspect has been sent for remand, and further legal action is underway. Police advised people to stay vigilant in hospitals and crowded places and to secure mobile phones and banking apps with security locks.