Pune, 25 September 2025: Pune Cyber Police have arrested a highly educated individual from Hyderabad for defrauding a reputed engineering college in Pune of ₹2.46 crore. The accused, Sitayya Kilaru, holds a master’s degree from Staffordshire University, London, and a PhD from Birmingham University, London.
He has also cleared both the preliminary and main UPSC exams and worked as a professor in several Hyderabad universities between 2015 and 2018.
The investigation revealed that Kilaru gained the trust of college professors by presenting fake projects through emails and WhatsApp calls. He even impersonated a prestigious IIT Mumbai professor, claiming he could secure AI and drone projects from the central government. However, the police confirmed that he had no association with IIT Mumbai.
Acting on a complaint filed at Pune Cyber Police Station, a team led by Senior Inspector Swapnali Shinde conducted a search operation in Hyderabad on September 21 and arrested Kilaru without resistance.
Authorities seized assets worth around ₹50 lakh from him, including 10 debit cards, 13 bank passbooks, 15 chequebooks, five 5G SIM cards, gold purchase receipts, four mobile phones, a tablet, a laptop, jewellery, and two cars.
According to Pune Cyber Police, Kilaru, originally from Vijayawada, turned to crime after leaving his job in 2022 following family disputes. The Hyderabad court granted a transit remand, and he has been brought to Pune, where he will remain in police custody until September 28.
Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and senior officials praised the cyber team for the successful operation, highlighting their coordination and meticulous planning in bringing the accused to justice.