Fake cops from Nalgonda held for extorting gold traders in Adilabad

A five-member gang from Nalgonda posing as police was arrested in Adilabad for extorting jewellery traders. The group used the identity of a Sub-Inspector to threaten victims and operated across multiple States. Gold, silver, and vehicles were seized from them

Adilabad: A five-member inter-State gang from Nalgonda district, posing as policemen, allegedly extorted gold jewellery traders in Echoda mandal headquarters on Thursday.

Police seized a car, motorbike, auto-rickshaw, 1.3 grams of gold and 14 tolas of silver from the accused.

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Adilabad Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan said the accused — Shaik Irfan, Chintalacheruvu Prashant, Badanapuri Ajay, Boppam Sudhakar and Votkuri Naresh — are all residents of Nalgonda district. The gang was nabbed following a tipoff.

During interrogation, Irfan confessed to forming the gang with the intention of making quick money. He admitted to targeting jewellery traders across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chennai and Bengaluru, using the name of the Echoda Sub-Inspector to instil fear and extort valuables.

Police said Irfan had earlier been arrested in an extortion case and was released on bail. He used the proceeds of the crime to purchase a car and motorbike.

Prashanth, a lorry cleaner, reportedly helped Irfan by identifying jewellery outlets through Google Maps.

The other three — Ajay, Sudhakar and Naresh — assisted Irfan by withdrawing money from fuel stations after depositing it into his account, the SP said.