Extortion gang targeting Charminar vendors busted, key accused arrested

Hyderabad police have arrested another accused in an organized extortion racket targeting pushcart vendors operating in the crowded Charminar area, forcing them to pay daily ‘mamool’ to continue their trade.

The arrested man, identified as Azhar Khan (44), was nabbed near a sugarcane juice stall near Charminar on March 24 following a complaint from a cosmetics pushcart vendor. According to police, the seller claimed he was threatened and forced to pay money on a daily basis to avoid harassment and disruption to his business.