Nashik-resident held in Hyderabad chain-snatching cases, accomplice absconding

A 37-year-old man from Maharashtra was arrested by Petbasheerabad police in connection with a series of chain-snatching cases reported in Hyderabad and neighbouring districts, while efforts are underway to trace his absconding associate. The accused was identified as Hasan Ali, a resident of Nashik. Police said his associate, identified as Mustafa, remains at large. According to the police, the duo are habitual offenders with a criminal history involving property offences. They were earlier arrested in similar cases, remanded to jail and later released on bail. Investigation revealed that the accused travelled from Nashik to Secunderabad by train with the intention of committing chain-snatching offences in Hyderabad and surrounding areas. They later proceeded to Nizamabad, where they stole a motorcycle during the intervening night of May 6 and 7 within the limits of Nizamabad III Town police station. The accused then travelled overnight towards Hyderabad and targeted women during the early morning hours. At Medchal, they snatched a gold chain from a woman before carrying out another chain-snatching at around 6 a.m. near Dhoolapally T-Junction on the service road of National Highway-44. In the second incident, the accused robbed a woman of a 4 tola gold wedding chain before fleeing from the spot. After committing the offences, the accused abandoned the stolen motorcycle near Gymkhana Grounds in Paradise and returned to Maharashtra. Based on CCTV footage, intelligence inputs and analysis of the movement of the stolen motorcycle, police teams traced the accused and arrested Hasan Ali. The stolen motorcycle was recovered from his possession. The accused is being produced before a court for judicial remand, while further investigation is under way to trace the absconding accused and recover the stolen gold chain. Published - May 13, 2026 08:24 pm IST