The Tamil Nadu accused-producing police were involved in more than 50 cases at Gudipala in Chittoor district on Sunday. | Photo credit: HANDOUT
In a major crackdown on interstate crime, the Gudipal police in Chittoor district on Sunday arrested a serial offender involved in rape, kidnapping, extortion and drug-related crimes in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The accused, identified as John Alex (35) from Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, has more than 50 criminal cases registered in TN and one in Chittoor district, police said.
The arrest followed a complaint filed on December 3 by a woman from Anupu ST colony in Gudipala mandal, which led to the registration of a case of rape along with charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. During the investigation, police found that Alex allegedly terrorized the victim’s family, kidnapping the woman at knifepoint, using pepper spray and trapping her in a mango orchard for nearly a week, subjecting her to repeated sexual assaults. He also assaulted the victim’s parents and brother as he forcibly led her away.
Based on the complaint, Superintendent of Police (SP) Tushar Dudi constituted a special team led by Deputy SP T. Sainath. The team tracked the accused and nabbed him near Thommidinnapalem Cross between Chittoor and Gudipala towards Vellore in TN on Sunday afternoon.
The SP said Alex started his criminal activities in 2010 and evolved into a hardened gangster involved in robberies, murders, attempted murders and drug-related offences. The Katpadi police in TN had earlier opened a complaint against him.
Officials seized an iron rod, pepper spray and a motorcycle from him.
Published – 07 Dec 2025 20:27 IST
