Pune: The Bibvewadi police on Monday claimed to have busted a gang behind the recent spate of cheatings over ‘cheap’ foreign exchange deals.
Six suspects, including a woman, were arrested on Friday. Police are now searching for the ring leader and his aide. The gang would offer to exchange UAE dirhams for Indian currencyat a low rate, summon them to an isolated spot and flee with the cash.
Senior inspector Sunil Zavare said the gang was wanted in four such cases — two registered by the Bibvewadi police and one each by the Vishrantwadi and the Lonikand police. “The suspects led the investigators to 10 other spots where they claimed to have robbed their victims,” said Zavare.
The inspector pegged the collective amount stolen in 14 cases at Rs35 lakh, and suspected the gang’s involvement in similar crimes in Mumbai too.
“All six are natives of Malda in West Bengal and were residing in rented houses in Hadapsar. In between, they also stayed in Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, among other cities. We have recovered Rs51,000 cash, 750 UAE dirhams, 14 cellphones, 12 SIM cards and other valuables from their possession,” said Zavare.
The six suspects have been identified as Muhammed Ubeidulla Muddasher Shaikh (30), Babu Fulmiya Mulla (32), Usman Mutalif Ali (27), Mohammed Kamran Khan (28), Ridoi Rahim Khan (23) and Pakhi Subhan Malik (27).
On September 16, a 28-year-old had lodged a complaint with the Bibvewadi police stating that two men robbed him of Rs2 lakh cash using the cheap forex lure. As the two men were in touch with this complainant for some days before the robbery, the police took their cellphone numbers and began analysing call detail records. The police came across one number from Vishrantwadi which turned out to be that of the gang’s next victim, who had been called near Dandekar Bridge for a similar deal.
The police asked the Vishrantwadi target to follow the gang’s instructions and then laid a trap on Friday, leading to the arrests. According to assistant inspector Usgaonkar, the ringleader and his aide would talk to drivers of businessmen or top officials of private firms. “The unsuspecting drivers would spread word among their employers, who would then contact the suspects,” he said.
Six suspects, including a woman, were arrested on Friday. Police are now searching for the ring leader and his aide. The gang would offer to exchange UAE dirhams for Indian currencyat a low rate, summon them to an isolated spot and flee with the cash.
Senior inspector Sunil Zavare said the gang was wanted in four such cases — two registered by the Bibvewadi police and one each by the Vishrantwadi and the Lonikand police. “The suspects led the investigators to 10 other spots where they claimed to have robbed their victims,” said Zavare.
The inspector pegged the collective amount stolen in 14 cases at Rs35 lakh, and suspected the gang’s involvement in similar crimes in Mumbai too.
“All six are natives of Malda in West Bengal and were residing in rented houses in Hadapsar. In between, they also stayed in Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, among other cities. We have recovered Rs51,000 cash, 750 UAE dirhams, 14 cellphones, 12 SIM cards and other valuables from their possession,” said Zavare.
The six suspects have been identified as Muhammed Ubeidulla Muddasher Shaikh (30), Babu Fulmiya Mulla (32), Usman Mutalif Ali (27), Mohammed Kamran Khan (28), Ridoi Rahim Khan (23) and Pakhi Subhan Malik (27).
On September 16, a 28-year-old had lodged a complaint with the Bibvewadi police stating that two men robbed him of Rs2 lakh cash using the cheap forex lure. As the two men were in touch with this complainant for some days before the robbery, the police took their cellphone numbers and began analysing call detail records. The police came across one number from Vishrantwadi which turned out to be that of the gang’s next victim, who had been called near Dandekar Bridge for a similar deal.
The police asked the Vishrantwadi target to follow the gang’s instructions and then laid a trap on Friday, leading to the arrests. According to assistant inspector Usgaonkar, the ringleader and his aide would talk to drivers of businessmen or top officials of private firms. “The unsuspecting drivers would spread word among their employers, who would then contact the suspects,” he said.
Read More: Six held for duping people with cheap forex deal bait | Pune News