Hyderabad: Aziz Reddy gang behind Muthoot heist

Hyderabad: Cyberabad police commissioner Sandeep Shandilya said the gangsters who were involved in the Muthoot heist were earlier associated with Mumbai don Chota Rajan and gangster Aziz Reddy. He said the gang also had connections with Mumbai dons Ravi Pujari and Daabu Setty.

Patil, one of the persons who was involved in the robbery, and Roshan who procured a smelter to melt the looted jewellery and convert it into gold bars, were earlier members of the gang.

Sundar Rajaratnam Kangalla, who hails from Mahbubnagar, was an associate of Chota Rajan, and was trying to get nominated as a corporator in the BMC.

All members of the gang were arrested in the past. They became friends in jail and started committing crimes after release on bail. Inquiries revealed that Sundar was involved in a robbery in Hyderabad in 2002. He is absconding.

“He was convicted in one case, but he appealed in the HC and is out on bail now, but he still continues to commit crimes with the help of old contacts,” the commissioner said.

The gangsters know only one person in the gang, and does not have any information about others, except their names. They coordinate with each other during crimes, and do not communicate with each other afterwards. They use only two SIM cards for a crime. One will be with the gang carrying the booty and the other with their aides who pilot and clear the route. They do not use these numbers to contact others except one other number.

“The gangsters live in posh houses. Their families are not aware of their activities. They commit crimes without leaving clues. Had they not come to Holikatta for their cars it would have been difficult to crack the case,” a police official said.

They share the booty among themselves with Laxman getting a double share and others one share each. They convert the jewellery into cash and invest in real estate.

“Shah is the main receiver and he funds the gang. He pays half the market price,” an official said.