Failed Muthoot robbery case in Hyderabad: Police nab kingpin of inter-state gang

He was arrested from Maharashtra's Osmanabad district.
Failed Muthoot robbery case in Hyderabad: Police nab kingpin of inter-state gang
Failed Muthoot robbery case in Hyderabad: Police nab kingpin of inter-state gang
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More than a month after a failed robbery attempt at the Muthoot Finance Branch in Hyderabad's Mailardevpally area, the Cyberabad police arrested the kingpin of the inter-state gang that planned the operation.

Mohammed Sharif Abdul Kadar Quadri was arrested from Maharashtra's Osmanabad district, weeks after the arrest of four other members on July 21. 

“Our special teams were in different cities to nab all the accused. However, after a credible information, we arrested the mastermind of the robbery plot. He is the main culprit. He plotted the robbery and even directed his gang member to steal the Tavera, which they used in carrying out their plan. This man has a violent nature .During investigation we got to know that he also had a fight with his own gang members in Hyderabad" joint commissioner of police, Cyberabad, Shahnawaz Qasim was quoted as saying.

The police also said that Sharif met two of the accused at the Dhule sub-jail in 2008, before he was shifted to a central prison due to frequent quarrels with prisoners and jail staff. 

After serving his sentence, Sharif met one Sheru Khan, through a man named Pradhan, and he bought two pistols for Rs 35,000 each and 15 live rounds for Rs 500 each, Deccan Chronicle reported.

“He purchased a 9 mm pistol and a 7.5mm pistol from Sheru, and tested them in Uttar Pradesh. He later purchased four mobile phones and distributed them to members of the gang,” Cyberabad police commissioner Sandeep Sandilya told media persons.

The police added that they were on the lookout for three others, including Sheru Khan, and two accused, Rajesh and Farooq.

Last month, four men attempted to rob the Mailardevpally branch of Muthoot Finance. 

CCTV footage of the incident showed one man jump over the counter to threaten employees with a knife, while two others were armed with guns.

However, alert employees immediately raised a ruckus and hit the alarm. The armed robbers then fled in a car driven by a fifth accomplice.

Hours after the failed robbery attempt, the Cyberabad police launched a manhunt for the suspects in a residential neighbourhood in the city, roping in teams from the elite counter-terrorism unit Octopus force.

After obtaining forensic evidence and CCTV footage from the crime scene, the police tracked the getaway vehicle to an apartment in Attapur, where they found their main clue.

The police had reportedly recovered a polythene cover in which 'Veersavarkar Chowk, Osmanabad' had been imprinted, which led them to their first arrest of two accused.

Later, four others were arrested.

The police said that this particular branch of Muthoot Finance was targeted, as it had no security guard, and was in an ideal location to make a getaway. 

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