Fake ‘godman’, two others held for cheating in Hyderabad
The arrested suspects were Salim Ali alias Baba (60), Mohd Sadiq (24), and Qurban Ali (23), all from Nagpur. Two suspects, Gulam Raza and Aziz Ali, were absconding
Hyderabad: The Task Force along with the Charminar police on Friday nabbed a fake ‘godman’ and two of his associates, all natives of Maharashtra, on charges of cheating people by diverting their attention and stealing their valuables. Police recovered stolen material all together worth Rs 15 lakh.
The arrested suspects were Salim Ali alias Baba (60), Mohd Sadiq (24), and Qurban Ali (23), all from Nagpur. Two suspects, Gulam Raza and Aziz Ali, were absconding.
According to City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar, Salim Ali was into crime since 1993 and was earlier arrested many times by the Maharashtra police. The other suspects were his relatives and are said to be of Iranian descent.
“The gang members were well trained by Salim Ali, who frequently changed the group members. Salim Ali is also a wanted criminal by Uppal and Market police since 2018. They select a city and stay in cheap lodges nearby business places. While Salim Ali acts as a ‘Baba’, the rest act as strangers who claim to have experienced his divine powers,” Anjani Kumar said.
They visit business places, gold markets and banks and target people, mostly elderly women. Salim Ali approaches the victim and boasts about his spiritual powers, following which his associates intervene as strangers and behave as if they are aware of his powers.
“The other suspects suggest the victims to handover their valuables to Salim Ali and seek his blessings to get rid of their problems. While doing so, they escape with the valuables,” the official said.
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