Gang dupes city residents luring them with foreign currencies, held

The accused were identified as Mohit Jabber (31) of west Delhi, Bilal (18) of New Delhi, Mohammed Anik Shiek (30) of northwest Delhi, Rabby (21) of West Bengal, Shohiduelb (25) and Suman (30) of Delhi, Fathima Begum (30) and Pakhi Begum (29) of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Three of the accused robbed Rs 2,000 from A Jayakumar, a real-estate businessman, at Tiruvanmiyur Kuppam Beach Road around 8 am on Sunday. After he alerted the Tiruvanmiyur police, they traced the accused to Tiruvanmiyur New Beach with the help of CCTV footage and secured themwithin hours.

However, investigation revealed that they have cheated several persons on the pretext of exchanging foreign currency. Explaining their modus operandi, the police said, “Their main targets were Urdu speaking Muslim men. The accused would approach the victims either as a group or individually depending on the situation and show a 100 riyal note (Saudi Arabian currency and 1 riyal is worth Rs 18) and ask its value. Claiming that they have a huge bundle of the same currency which their relative brought from abroad, the accused would lure the victims saying that they are ready to exchange it for Rs 3 lakh as they are in need of money.

Those who fall for it will pay them the sum and get the bundle only to realise later that they were either fake notes or newspaper cuttings,” said the police. While those who gave hawala cash to the gang did not approach the police, it became favourable for the gang and they started visiting the city every now and then.

In May, an autorickshaw driver lost Rs 2 lakh to the accused who boarded his vehicle in a similar manner. Based on his complaint, the Tiruvanmiyur police have already registered a case. “After carrying out a loot, the gang would go back to their respective towns and return a few months later. They stayed in Kelambakkam and moved around like a family to avoid suspicion,” said the police. All seven persons were remanded in judicial custody on Sunday.