The Crime Staff of Mehdipatnam Police Station in Hyderabad successfully apprehended an inter-state ATM attention diversion gang on January 3, 2026, at approximately 9:00 AM. The arrest took place near an ATM at Maruti Vilas, Vijay Nagar Colony, where the accused were caught red-handed while attempting to commit another fraud. The gang had been targeting vulnerable citizens across multiple states, exploiting elderly and illiterate ATM users through a well-coordinated deception scheme.
Police arrested four individuals in connection with the fraud operations. The main offenders have been identified as Aamir Suhel, also known as Ameer Sohail or Sohel, a 24-year-old lorry driver from Palwal District, Haryana, and Mubarik, a 26-year-old chicken fry stall owner from the same district. Two additional accused, Mustakeem, a 25-year-old lorry driver, and Md Amer, a 33-year-old auto driver from Hyderabad with roots in Uttar Pradesh, were also taken into custody. The police recovered ₹52,000 in cash, 89 ATM cards from various banks, three mobile phones, and an auto rickshaw bearing registration number TS12 UA 3780 from the accused.
The case came to light after Sri Alakunta Venkatesh, an electrician from Asif Nagar, Hyderabad, filed a complaint on December 31, 2025. He reported that unknown persons had fraudulently exchanged his mother’s ATM card at the SBI ATM at Mallepally X Road after obtaining her PIN number through deceptive means. The fraudsters subsequently withdrew ₹40,000 from her account. This complaint triggered an investigation that led to the identification and arrest of the gang members.
The gang’s modus operandi involved specifically targeting illiterate and elderly citizens at ATM centers. The accused would approach vulnerable users pretending to offer assistance with their transactions. During this interaction, they would cleverly exchange the genuine ATM cards with fake or previously stolen cards while simultaneously obtaining the victims’ PIN numbers. Once they had both the card and PIN, they would quickly withdraw cash from the victims’ accounts before the fraud was discovered. The gang had been operating across state lines, making it difficult for local authorities to track their movements.
Investigation revealed that the accused have significant criminal histories. Aamir Suhel is already involved in four cases registered at Moinabad Police Station, with two non-bailable warrants pending against him. Mubarik was previously involved in an automobile theft case in Haryana. Following the arrests, police have issued a public advisory urging citizens not to share their ATM cards or PIN numbers with anyone and to avoid accepting help from strangers at ATM centers to prevent falling victim to such fraudulent schemes.
