20/09/2026
*PRESS NOTE*
*HCP Task Force nabs notorious criminal gang with multi state operations. Cracks 17 cases involving property worth 22 Lacs, including cattle and high value electronics*
On 18-08-2026, the sleuths of the Commissioner’s Task Force, Jubilee Hills Zone Team, along with Khammam Police, acting on credible information, apprehended a gang involved in cattle theft and subsequent shutter-lifting thefts at mobile-phone shops. The accused were allegedly involved in 13 cattle-theft cases across Telangana and subsequent mobile-shop thefts in Khammam and Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The stolen mobile phones were allegedly disposed of through an organised network extending to Mumbai and Bangladesh. During the operation, cash suspected to be proceeds of the stolen property was also seized.
*ACCUSED DETAILS:*
CATTLE THEFT ACCUSED:
1. Md. Tabrez, S/o Late Dawood Shaik, Age: 40 yrs, Occ: Driver, R/o Talah Masjid, Moti Darwaza, Langer House, Hyderabad. (INVOLVED IN BOTH)
2. Mohd. Rafeeq, S/o Abdul Nabi, Age: 54 yrs, Occ: Auto Driver, R/o Near Garden, Golconda Khila, Hyderabad. (INVOLVED IN BOTH)
3. Mohammed Zubair Akthar, S/o Late Mohammed Akthar Ali, Age: 30 yrs, Occ: Horse Riding, R/o Opp. Alpha Hospital, Moghalpur, Hyderabad.
4. Mohammed Naveed, S/o Mohammed Mahboob, Age: 24 yrs, Occ: Butcher, R/o Near Anwar Masjid, Najam Nagar, Kishan Bagh, Hyderabad.
5. P. Sai Reddy S/o Late. P. Pandu Ranga Reddy, Age: 35 Yrs, Occ: worker in Medical Shop, R/o: Langar Houze, Hyderabad. (XYLAZINE INJECTION SUPPLIER)
*CELL PHONE SHOP SHUTTER-LIFTING THEFT ACCUSED:*
6. Farahan Shaik, S/o Mumtaz Shaik, Age: 37 yrs, Occ: Labour, R/o Mumbai, Maharashtra.
7. Mubeen Shaik, S/o Hassan Shaik, Age: 45 yrs, Occ: Switching, R/o Mumbai, Maharashtra. (RECEIVER)
8. Mehboob Shaikh @ Papa, S/o Abdul Fazal Shaikh, Age: 32 yrs, Occ: Car Driver, R/o Kurla West, Mumbai, Maharashtra. (RECEIVER)
9. Mohd. Zahed Khan @ Raja Bhai, S/o Late Mohd. Ahmed, Age: 34 yrs, Occ: Business, R/o Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. (RECEIVER)
10. Abu @ Afzal Absconding
11. Kalu native of Mumbai Absconding
12. Zasim native of Dhaka, Bangladesh absconding
*SEIZED PROPERTY:*
1. Mobile phones – 15
2. Four Wheeler car - 03
3. Cash – Rs.22,00,000/-
4. Number Plate - 01
*MODUS OPERANDI – CATTLE THEFT:*
During the enquiry, Md. Tabrez disclosed that he, Mohd. Rafeeq and their associates were allegedly involved in cattle-theft offences, particularly during Ramzan and Bakrid, when there was increased demand for cattle. Tabrez and Rafeeq allegedly identified cattle sheds located in isolated areas during late-night hours. They allegedly administered Xylazine injections, a sedative, to make the cattle drowsy and less active, after which the cattle were loaded into vehicles and transported away. The stolen cattle were allegedly taken to cattle markets and sold at lower prices.Tabrez was also found to have previous involvement in several cases relating to house-breaking and shutter-lifting thefts. After the cattle-theft offences, he allegedly reverted to his earlier pattern of targeting commercial establishments, particularly mobile-phone shops, through shutter-lifting thefts.
Tabrez and Rafeeq were allegedly involved in all 13 cattle-theft offences, while Zubair and Naveed participated in selected offences. The accused were allegedly involved in 13 cattle-theft offences across Nagarkurnool, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda Districts, including the Future City area.
*ASSOCIATION AND VEHICLE FACILITATION:*
Investigation further revealed that Tabrez came in contact with Abu @ Afzal, who had earlier been lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison in an NDPS case, came into contact with Tabrez, Zubair and Rafeeq during their incarceration. After their release, Abu allegedly facilitated self-drive vehicles, including Innova Crysta, Innova, Ertiga and Baleno, for their activities. His role was limited to arranging vehicles and he did not allegedly participate in the actual thefts.
Abu @ Afzal also allegedly arranged a Baleno car for Tabrez, Rafeeq and Zubair when they travelled to Bangalore with an intention to commit a theft at a gold shop. However, the offence was not committed.
*SHIFT FROM CATTLE THEFT TO SHUTTER-LIFTING:*
After Ramzan and Bakrid, the accused allegedly observed reduced demand for cattle and shifted their focus to their earlier criminal activity of shutter-lifting thefts targeting mobile-phone shops. After 28-05-2026, Tabrez contacted his old associate Farahan, who suggested targeting mobile-phone shops and informed the group about persons who could facilitate disposal of stolen property. Abu @ Afzal allegedly arranged an Ertiga vehicle for their use.
*ATTEMPTED THEFT AT VIJAYAWADA:*
Before the Khammam offence, Tabrez, Rafeeq and Farahan allegedly attempted to commit a shutter-lifting theft at a Big C store in Vijayawada. However, the attempt was unsuccessful and they subsequently moved towards their next target.
*KHAMMAM MOBILE-SHOP THEFT:*
On 11-06-2026, Tabrez, Farahan and Rafeeq allegedly committed a shutter-lifting theft at Sonovision mobile-phone shop, Khammam. Farahan, having close contacts in Mumbai for disposal of stolen mobile phones, allegedly facilitated the disposal through middlemen/facilitators Mehboob Shaikh @ Papa and Mubeen Shaikh, who connected the stolen phones to Mohd. Zahed Khan @ Raja Bhai allegedly procured the stolen mobile phones for approximately ₹20 lakh, and the amount received from the disposal of the stolen phones was allegedly shared among the persons involved and used for their personal expenses. After coming to know that the Khammam Police were pursuing them, the accused allegedly fled to Mumbai from Hyderabad. Subsequently, in the month of July again they procured a Swift Dzire vehicle and proceeded to Madhya Pradesh, where they allegedly committed further mobile-shop thefts.
*TWO MOBILE-SHOP THEFTS IN UJJAIN:*
In July 2026, Tabrez and Rafeeq travelled to Madhya Pradesh along with Mukesh in a Swift Dzire. On 10-07-2026, they allegedly committed two shutter-lifting thefts at mobile-phone shops in the Freeganj area of Ujjain, with Mukesh participating in both offences. The stolen mobile phones from the Ujjain offences were allegedly disposed of through Mubeen, who arranged their disposal through Kalu, a Mumbai-based associate.
*ATTEMPT TO COMMIT FURTHER OFFENCE IN GUJARAT:*
After committing the two offences in Ujjain, the accused allegedly planned to commit another shutter-lifting theft in Gujarat. They conducted recce of potential targets and identified a suitable location for committing the offence. While attempting to proceed with the offence, they allegedly noticed police patrolling in the area. In an attempt to evade the police, they panicked and allegedly met with a road accident. During the accident, Farahan sustained a fracture to his hand. The accused allegedly abandoned the vehicle at the spot after the accident, as it was being used with a fake registration number, two additional duplicate number plates to evade identification and iron rod was present vehicle, allegedly intended for use in the planned shutter-lifting offence.
*STOLEN MOBILE-PHONE DISPOSAL NETWORK – ROLE OF MOHD. ZAHED KHAN @ RAJA BHAI:*
Investigation further revealed that , Mohd. Zahed Khan @ Raja Bhai engaged in the mobile-phone business for several years. He initially worked as a mobile-phone mechanic around 2010 and entered the used-mobile-phone business around 2016. Subsequently, he allegedly started dealing in stolen mobile phones. Zahed allegedly procured mobile phones from different States, including Telangana and Karnataka, through various intermediaries. The investigation revealed that he allegedly received stolen mobile phones from mediators, who sourced them from pickpockets and other persons involved in mobile-phone thefts in different locations.
He allegedly dealt in new, used, reused and second-hand mobile phones, including stolen and damaged devices and spare parts, and handled approximately 400–500 mobile phones per month. He also allegedly maintained contacts in Mumbai, including Chor Bazaar and Madanpura, for the procurement and disposal of such phones. Zahed allegedly acted as a receiver and disposer of stolen mobile phones, procuring them through intermediaries and subsequently routing them through his network for onward disposal in Bangladesh through Kasim.
*INTERNATIONAL DISPOSAL CHANNEL*
The further enquiry revealed that Kasim, a native of Dhaka, Bangladesh, was allegedly involved in the transportation and onward movement of stolen mobile phones towards Bangladesh on a commission basis. After the stolen phones were collected by Zahed in Mumbai, they were allegedly packed into parcels and transported by road/bus towards Kolkata. From Kolkata, the phones were allegedly smuggled through waterways into Bangladesh through unauthorised channels for disposal in the international market. Kasim allegedly facilitated the onward movement of the phones and received commission for the transportation/disposal arrangements.
In some instances, persons associated with Kasim allegedly collected the mobile phones directly from Zahed in Mumbai and arranged their onward transportation. Kalu, a Mumbai-based associate, is also allegedly involved in the movement and disposal of stolen mobile phones. The investigation also revealed alleged financial transactions connected with the disposal network, including suspected Hawala transactions, which are being further verified. The stolen mobile phones were allegedly disposed of through channels where the devices were difficult to trace or track through their IMEI numbers.
*APPREHENSION:*
After committing the above offences, the accused allegedly procured a new Volkswagen Vento car for committing further thefts in Hyderabad City. On 17-08-2026, the accused were apprehended in Hyderabad City while allegedly planning to commit another offence using the said vehicle. The apprehension was made before they could execute the planned offence.
The above apprehension was made under the supervision of Sri. Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Commissioner’s Task Force, Hyderabad, with the active participation of Ch. Yadender, Inspector of Police, Jubilee Hills Zone Task Force, along with SI D. Ravi Raj, SI G. Sandeep Reddy and the staff of Commissioner’s Task Force, Jubilee Hills Zone Team, Hyderabad, in coordination with Khammam Police.
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
HYDERABAD CITY.
