Hyderabad: How Monda Market Police busted gangs involved in fake gold transaction scam
In a dramatic twist to the case, the dacoits themselves were robbed by another group posing as a vehicle seizure team
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: How Monda Market Police busted gangs involved in fake gold transaction scam
Hyderabad: Monda Market Police have cracked a dacoity case by arresting 18 members of a gang involved in a fake gold transaction scam.
Police recovered Rs 43.21 lakh in cash, over 57 grams of gold, two cars, four bikes, and 23 mobile phones. In a dramatic twist to the case, the dacoits themselves were robbed by another group posing as a vehicle seizure team.
The Trap: Gold at discount price
The case began with a complaint by Hariram, a resident of Bowenpally, who was lured into a fraudulent gold deal. A known associate, Radheshyam, promised him 1 kg of gold at a 5 percent discount, provided the transaction was made in liquid cash. After a few staged interactions to build trust, Hariram was introduced to others involved in the con.
Posing as Police, they robbed the victim
On the day of the incident, four men impersonating officials from the SOT Rachakonda Commissionerate entered Hariramās office. One of them identified himself as āKeshavuluā and flashed a fake police ID. The group assaulted Hariram, seized the cash and phones from all present, and fled the scene in two cars and on motorcycles.
Twist in the Tale: Dacoits robbed by another group
While escaping, a second group posing as a loan recovery team intercepted the dacoits near Trimulgherry, identified one of the escape bikes as an EMI default vehicle, and robbed the robbers under the threat of false legal action. This second gang then vanished with the stolen cash.
Later, when the original dacoits found out, internal conflicts arose between the two groups, leading to assaults and further tracking, eventually helping the police unravel the case.
Modus Operandi: Fake Gold, Real Loot
The conspiracy was masterminded by Chandra Shekar Verma (Kingpin) and his brother Nagaraju Kumar Verma, both from Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. They hatched a plan to trap unsuspecting buyers by offering gold at lower prices and robbing them once cash was confirmed.
A meeting was held on June 18 at Blue Sea Hotel, where 15 conspirators met to finalize the heist. One of the gang members even showed a fake online bank balance to reassure the victim. Upon finalizing the deal, the gang staged the fake police raid and looted the money.
Key Arrests Made
Police identified and apprehended 18 accused, including Meesala Keshavulu, a constable from Telangana State Special Police (TGSP), who played the role of the fake police officer, Radheshyam, the man who lured the victim.
Members from Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Krishna district (AP), West Godavari, and Mahabubnagar. Another 10 accused are absconding, including Suresh, Teja, Srikanth, and others.
Police investigation
The investigation team examined over 100 CCTV feeds, tracked digital and physical evidence, and coordinated across jurisdictions.
Public Advisory
DCP Rashmi Perumal has cautioned the public against falling prey to fraudulent schemes offering gold or valuable commodities at unrealistic prices. Citizens are urged to verify the legitimacy of such offers and report any suspicious activity to their nearest police station, she added.
