Detectives from the Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force (South West Zone), in coordination with Mangalhat Police, have arrested two habitual offenders for tricking elderly women and replacing their real cash with fake currency.
The accused, Syed Waseemuddin (34) from Yakutpura and Mohd Azam Ali Imran (34) from Vatepally, both auto-rickshaw drivers, were arrested with Rs 20,000 cash and their auto-rickshaw seized.
According to Additional DCP Ande Srinivasa Rao, both individuals were addicted to alcohol and smoking and found their driving income inadequate to support their lifestyle. Seeking easy money, they devised a plan to cheat elderly women by using children’s play currency.
They purchased fake Rs 500 notes from a stationery shop in Charminar and targeted elderly women walking alone. Offering free rides, they would distract the victims and replace their genuine money with fake notes during the journey.
In one case, they offered a free ride to a woman who had just withdrawn money from an SBI bank. Under the pretense of helping, they forcibly took her handbag and returned it after secretly switching the real cash with dummy notes.
Acting on a tip-off, the police tracked down and arrested both suspects. The operation led to the recovery of fake currency, real cash worth Rs 20,000, and the vehicle used in the crimes.
Police are urging the public, especially elderly citizens, to be cautious and avoid accepting unsolicited offers from strangers.
