Muthoot robbers backed by Mumbai mafia

The police said that Sunder, a native of Mahabubnagar, had been in Mumbai as a teen.
People gather outside the Muthoot Finance office at Beeramguda near Hyderabad on Wednesday after hearing the news of robbery | Express photo
People gather outside the Muthoot Finance office at Beeramguda near Hyderabad on Wednesday after hearing the news of robbery | Express photo

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad police, who on Sunday announced that they had arrested five men in connection to the Muthoot Finance gold robbery in RC Puram, said that members of the gang behind the robbery were found to be backed by DK Rao, a current active associate of Chota Rajan. 

During their investigation into the robbery, the police found that the gang had links with the Mumbai mafia, using which the gangsters were converting gold into cash and investing the money in various businesses.

The accused gang members Sunder Rajaratnam Kangalla, who participated in the robbery along with Tukaram Gaikwad and Kaala alias Lambu, belongs to the gang of Chota Rajan and Aziz Reddy. 

Other members including Twinkle Mishra and Roshan Yadav, who provided support to the robbers belong to Ravi Pujari’s gang.

The police said that Sunder, a native of Mahabubnagar, had been in Mumbai as a teen. With the help of friend Tukaram, Sunder joined Chota Rajan’s gang. Sunder was also closely associated with slain gangster Aziz Reddy. 

“These gang members are investing all the money in real estate businesses as individuals. One such firm was identified as SKR Assocaites in Dharavi. Some money was also invested in real estate firms in Pune. All of this is with the help of Chota Rajan's close associate DK Rao, the active gangster in Mumbai now,” said a senior police officer.  

The investigation also revealed that Laxman had called Roshan Yadav of Uttar Pradesh to arrange a smelter to melt the gold ornaments. They converted gold ornaments into bars in Patil’s house at Nasik. Roshan, a member of Dabbu Shetty’s gang, notorious for armed robberies, is now an upcoming gangster in UP. Each of these persons is involved in a minimum of five cases of stealing and assaults, police said.

Twinkle Mishra of Uttar Pradesh and Sukka alias Kumar of Malad, who arranged guns for the robbers are from Yeda Bala alias Yeda Anna’s gang. When Laxman asked Twinkle to arrange weapons, he brought two pistols from UP and gave them to Laxman in Mumbai. 

“Sunder, is pooling money to contest in the coming Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections,” said police officials. 

A senior police officer said they suspected the gold would be with Kumar Pal Shah, a Mumbai-based jeweller. He could have distributed the gold among his associates, as he received huge amounts through RTGS (real time gross settlement) transfer in his accounts. He will be taken into custody and the matter will be looked into, police said. 

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