Four held for cheating people with ‘hidden treasure’ promise in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The Commissioner’s Task Force, Shamshabad Zone, along with Rajendra Nagar police, arrested four people for allegedly cheating residents by promising to locate hidden treasure buried beneath houses, police said. The accused were identified as Mohd Munawar alias Munna, 36, a denting and painting worker from Gudimalkapur; Syed Ali Ashraf, 40, an electrician from Farhan [...] <p class="isSelectedEnd"><strong>HYDERABAD:</strong> The Commissioner’s Task Force, Shamshabad Zone, along with Rajendra Nagar police, arrested four people for allegedly cheating residents by promising to locate hidden treasure buried beneath houses, police said.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">The accused were identified as Mohd Munawar alias Munna, 36, a denting and painting worker from Gudimalkapur; Syed Ali Ashraf, 40, an electrician from Farhan Nagar, Jawaharnagar; Mohd Haji, 25, an auto-rickshaw driver from Balaji Nagar, Jawaharnagar; and Mohd Salman, 29, a bike mechanic from Yadgarpally, Keesara mandal.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Police seized two cars, an auto-rickshaw, two motorcycles, four mobile phones, 25 duplicate gold-coated coins, 6 kg of coal, 4 kg of soil and pooja material from them.</p> <h3>Police said gang targeted people with claims of treasure</h3> <p class="isSelectedEnd">According to police, Munawar, who worked in car denting and painting, allegedly devised the plan after finding his income insufficient to meet his family expenses.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">He allegedly contacted Ashraf, Haji and Salman and told them about the plan. The three agreed to join him to make easy money, police said.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">The accused allegedly approached people and claimed they had special knowledge to locate hidden treasure, or Gupta Nidhulu, beneath residential premises.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Police said the accused would dig the ground and plant a sack containing coal and duplicate gold-coated coins. They would then leave the place, telling the victims that the coal would take time to turn into gold.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Police said 11 people were cheated in different areas and the total amount involved was about ₹1 crore.</p> <h3>Case registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions</h3> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Rajendra Nagar police registered a case in Crime No. 916/2026 under Sections 318(4), 351(2), 61(2) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The investigation is under way.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Police said Munawar was previously involved in a cheating case registered at Begum Bazar police station.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">The arrests were made under the supervision of Inspector K Ravi, sub-inspectors K Mansoor Ali, Narsing Rao and S Seshu, along with Task Force personnel from the Shamshabad Zone and Rajendra Nagar police.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Police urged people not to believe persons claiming that hidden or underground treasure is buried at particular places.</p> They advised people to immediately inform the police if anyone approaches them with such claims or attempts to collect money by promising to locate hidden treasure.