Inter-state ATM card fraud gang busted in Mehdipatnam; ₹52,000, 89 cards seized

Hyderabad: The Mehdipatnam Police have arrested an inter-state gang involved in ATM card attention diversion frauds, recovering ₹52,000 in cash, 89 ATM cards belonging to different banks, three mobile phones and an auto-rickshaw.

The arrests were made on January 3, 2026, following a tip-off that the accused were attempting to commit another offence near an ATM in Vijay Nagar Colony.

The case has been registered as Crime No. 365/2025 under Sections 318(4), 303(2) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). All accused have been sent to judicial remand.

The Accused

Police identified the accused as:

1. Aamir Suhel @ Ameer Sohail @ Sohel (24), lorry driver, resident of Palwal district, Haryana, main offender

2. Mubarik (26), runs a chicken fry stall, resident of Palwal district, Haryana, main offender

3. Mustakeem (25), lorry driver, resident of Palwal district, Haryana, cut-off accused

4. Mohd Amer (33), auto driver, residing in Moinabad area of Hyderabad, cut-off accused

How the Arrest Was Made

According to police, the crime staff of Mehdipatnam Police Station apprehended the accused at around 9 am on January 3, 2026. “Acting on credible information that the suspects were attempting another ATM-related offence, the crime team laid surveillance near Maruti Vilas, Vijay Nagar Colony, and apprehended them,” police officials said.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to their involvement in multiple ATM card frauds across states.

Brief Facts of the Case

The case came to light after a complaint was lodged by Alakunta Venkatesh (38), an electrician from Asif Nagar. He stated that on December 28, 2025, he visited an SBI ATM at Mallepally X Road to check his mother’s account balance.

Due to his limited education, he sought help from two unknown persons inside the ATM and handed over the card and disclosed the PIN. They informed him that the balance was ₹1.32 lakh and returned a card. Later, he received SMS alerts showing a withdrawal of ₹40,000 and realised that his ATM card had been exchanged.

Modus Operandi

Police explained that the gang specifically targeted elderly and illiterate persons at ATMs. “They pretended to help victims withdraw cash or check balances, discreetly exchanged ATM cards, obtained the PIN and later withdrew money,” officials said.

Recovered Material

• ₹52,000 cash

• 89 ATM cards of various banks

• Three mobile phones

• Auto-rickshaw bearing registration number TS12 UA 3780

Previous Criminal History

Police stated that Aamir Suhel is involved in four previous cases registered at Moinabad Police Station in 2018, with two non-bailable warrants pending against him. Mubarik was earlier involved in an automobile theft case in Haryana and had been sent to jail.

Police Advisory

Advising the public, police said, “People should never hand over their ATM cards to strangers or share PIN details for withdrawals or balance enquiries, regardless of the circumstances.”