Hyderabad, Jun 3 (PTI) Five members of a gang who were allegedly involved in kidnapping, extortion and cheating after impersonating police were arrested here, police said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on May 18 in Jagadgirigutta, when a 42-year-old man, while proceeding on his motorcycle was intercepted by the accused.

Three persons alighted from the vehicle while one remained inside. The accused falsely represented themselves as police officials and informed the man that a criminal case was registered against him in Haryana and that he was required to accompany them for enquiry, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Quthbullapur Zone) N Koti Reddy said in a release.

The man was forcibly taken into the vehicle, wrongfully confined, and his mobile phone, ATM card, and cash were seized. He was coerced into revealing banking credentials and passwords.

To strengthen the deception, the accused arranged a fake video call impersonating a police officer from Haryana. The victim, was taken to Suryapet, where Rs One lakh was withdrawn from his bank account through ATM transactions.

Further, Rs One lakh was transferred through a digital payment app and additional money was siphoned through online banking applications. In total, an amount of Rs 5.26 lakh was fraudulently extorted from the victim.

Later, the accused assaulted him, removed his SIM card, provided a basic mobile handset, and abandoned him at an isolated place before fleeing, police said.

The man lodged a complaint with police on May 20.

Based on technical evidence and sustained investigation, five accused persons, who belong to Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Hyderabad were apprehended.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that they were acquainted in prison and continued their criminal activities as an organised gang after release.

On the modus operandi of the accused, police said the gang targeted businessmen and financially strong individuals. They used fake police uniforms, identity cards, rank badges, and insignia to impersonate police officers.

Victims were intercepted, falsely informed about criminal cases, forcibly confined, and coerced into transferring money through ATM withdrawals, online banking, and digital payment platforms, police said.

They also used technical support networks for surveillance, victim identification, and coordination of offences across jurisdictions, police added.

The prime accused is a habitual offender involved in 12 similar cases across Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and Jharkhand while the remaining accused also have involvement in theft, property offences, dacoity, and cyber-linked criminal cases across multiple police stations in Telangana and other states.

Police recovered mobile phones, laptops, one air pistol and one country-made 7.65 mm pistol, Police uniforms, fake ID cards, rank badges, and insignia, handcuffs, batons, police stamps, name plates, and shoes besides fake government documents, letter pads, court seals and vehicles including car and motorcycles.

The accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. Efforts are continuing to apprehend the absconding accused and to identify further victims and associates linked to the gang, police added. PTI VVK VVK KH

Police impersonation gang used kidnapping and digital fraud to extort money from victims. A five-member gang was arrested for allegedly committing kidnapping, extortion and cheating by impersonating police officers. The accused reportedly intercepted a victim, falsely claimed that a criminal case was pending against him, forcibly took him away, confined him, seized his mobile phone, ATM card and cash, and coerced him into disclosing banking credentials and passwords. A fake video call from a purported police officer was also used to reinforce the deception.