In a dramatic turn of events reminiscent of a crime thriller, city police in Hyderabad on Tuesday foiled a meticulously planned Rs 1 crore heist linked to hawala transactions, arresting four accused at the airport while five others remain on the run.
The case, which unfolded under the jurisdiction of the Kukatpally police station, was cracked within hours. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rithiraj, the prime accused, Mohammed Khusroddin—an air-conditioner mechanic—masterminded the operation despite being entrusted with transporting cash for his employer.
Police said Ameer, a businessman from Bahadurpura, allegedly conducted hawala operations through his firm “Sidra Enterprises” and relied on Khusroddin for cash deliveries. On Monday evening, Khusroddin and his associate Azumuddin were sent to collect Rs 1 crore using a coded Rs 10 note, a method commonly used in hawala transactions.
After receiving the cash from a contact in Kukatpally, Khusroddin alerted his accomplice, Umar Sharif. In line with a pre-planned strategy, a group intercepted them near Metro Pillar No. 848, threw chilli powder into Azumuddin’s eyes, threatened him with knives, and escaped with the money.
What initially appeared to be a case of robbery soon took a dramatic turn during the investigation. Police recovered an abandoned two-wheeler from the scene, which led them to a woman named Fatima in Maktha. This clue helped identify her son, Mohammed Ghouse Saddam, as a key suspect.
Using technical surveillance and field intelligence, investigators tracked the accused to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad, where they were attempting to flee to Lucknow. Police teams acted swiftly, arresting Khusroddin, Umar Sharif, Ghouse Saddam, and Abdul Hamid.
Authorities recovered Rs 77.39 lakh in cash from the arrested individuals. Investigators revealed that during the staged attack, some chilli powder inadvertently affected one of the accused, forcing him to abandon the bike—an oversight that proved crucial in cracking the case.
Five other suspects—identified as Chotu, Salman, Gouse, Zeeshan, and Jammu—remain absconding and are believed to be in possession of the remaining amount.
Police said further investigation is underway to dismantle the hawala network and apprehend the remaining accused.
Follow us
