Hyderabad: A gang of three duped a gold trader in Rajendranagar and extorted Rs 50 lakh in demonetised currency promising to exchange it.
The victim from Secunderabad was lured by his acquaintance, who told him that he can get the cash exchanged using his connections with bank employees, and made him go to Attapur with the cash. The acquaintance then sent him back with the cash stating the bank was closed. While the victim was returning to Secunderabad, two men pretending to be cops stopped his car and took away the cash.
The Rajendranagar police, who is investigating the case, has kept the name of victim secret. But, local sources said the man's name was Dinesh. Police is now searching for the two unidentified men and the victim's acquaintance, who pulled off the con act.
Police said the incident occurred on Tuesday night. “As the trader wanted to exchange the cash his acquaintance promised him that he could get it done. The acquaintance asked the victim to come to Attapur ICICI Bank where he would exchange the notes using his influence with bank employees. The victim went there in his car with the cash. On reaching there the acquaintance said that bank employees have left and the bank was closed and asked him to return. While the victim was returning he was robbed,” said a police official from Rajendranagar.
When the victim was on his way back, two persons followed his car on a bike. They overtook him and stopped the car.
“They introduced themselves as policemen and asked him to show ID proof. They also asked him about the source of his cash. They then threatened him that he will have to pay 200 per cent penalty for the cash and a case will also be filed against him. They then snatched his bag and escaped from the spot,” said an official.
The victim later approached the police and lodged a complaint. Shamshabad zone deputy commissioner of police P.V. Padmaja said that a case was booked against the suspects under Section 384 for extortion. Cops are checking CCTV cameras to track the suspects.
The DCP appealed to the public not to fall into the trap of conmen who claim that they can change the old currency notes outside the banking system. She said that people holding high amounts of old currency notes should directly go and deposit in banks or post offices instead of going to middlemen.
