Hyderabad: Conmen pretending to be police officers diverted the attention of a silver merchant and stole Rs 7.5 lakh from his bag at Mahankali.
The crooks approached the merchant and said that they suspected he was carrying drugs. During the ‘checking’, the duo stole the money, gave back the bag and fled. The merchant’s bag contained Rs 20 lakh and he realised that Rs 7.5 lakh had been stolen only when he counted the cash.
The victim, Gopinath, 46, belonging to Selvam in TN, had come to Mahankali to meet jewellers. He was carrying the money to purchase silver ornaments.
“Gopinath had rented a room at Mahankali where he stays regularly whenever he comes to the city. On Wednsday, he got down from the bus at Lakdikapul and took an autorickshaw to Mahankali. As he was going to enter his room two people approached him claiming to be police. They told him that they had to check his bag as they suspected that he was carrying cocaine,” said inspector B. Ramesh.
“He had Rs 20 lakh in his bag and when the men started checking he became nervous as he was carrying money without documents. The duo diverted his attention and pocketed some note bundles. Later, they gave back the bag and left,” said the inspector.
When Gopinath counted the cash he found money was missing. He then approached the police.
Cops suspect the crooks knew Gopinath comes to the city every week with cash.
The police has booked a case.
