Hyderabad: Police on Sunday, June 21, arrested a 57-year-old history-sheeter on charges of allegedly extorting and threatening Hyderabad builders with false criminal cases if they failed to pay him money.
Habeeb Ali Baghdadi from King Koti has a rowdy sheet registered at the Abids Police Station. He returned from Saudi Arabia and began threatening new builders in Hyderabad.
According to the Dabeerpura Police, Baghdadi was arrested following a complaint from an Azampur-based builder.
Baghdadi, for many months, had been demanding Rs 50 lakh as extortion money from the builder. The history sheeter threatened to complain to civic authorities if the builder failed to comply.
Two months ago, Baghdadi came to the construction premises located in the Kaladera area of Malakpet and allegedly displayed a knife, warning the builder and his employees. On June 9, the incident repeated. This time, he threatened the construction site watchman.
During the investigation, police discovered that the history sheeter targeted new builders in the city. He would go to social media platforms, read about suspected violations or citizen complaints that tagged administrative officials and identify his targets.
Using this information, he contacted the builders and demanded money.
On Sunday, Baghdadi was arrested and sent to judicial custody.
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