Maha cops arrest Nuh-based ATM robbers’ gang leader, wife

The Maharashtra Police have arrested a couple from Nuh for stealing money after cutting open ATMs in other states.

The accused have been identified as Yusuf and his wife, Seema, who had formed a gang that would cut open ATMs. Both were produced in a court on Friday, following which the Maharashtra Police took them on a production warrant.

Inspector Wahab Shaikh, in-charge of the Dehu Road police station in Pimpri Chinchwad area of Maharashtra’s Pune district, said on March 23, Yusuf’s gang reached the IndusInd Bank ATM in a car. As soon as they started cutting open the ATM, the siren installed there started ringing. The security branch of the bank immediately informed the local police about it and a police team reached the spot. Officials caught two gang members, Mustafa and Mustakim, red handed, while Seema and another accused managed to flee the spot.

“During interrogation, the duo revealed that Yusuf was the leader. Based on the information, our team reached Nuh and with the help of the local police, we arrested Yusuf and his wife Seema. Nearly four months ago, Yusuf and Seema had looted another ATM on the Dehu road police station and they stole cash worth Rs 14 lakh. Since then, the police have been looking for them,” said Inspector Shaikh.

Inspector Sheikh said Seema was a native of Pune, who often used to travel between Pune and Mumbai. In Mumbai, she met Yusuf, a resident of Nuh, who used to sell clothes there. A love affair developed between them and they got married. Following this, Seema changed her identity to Shabnam and came to Nuh and started living with Yusuf. Both of them formed a gang to steal ATMs, which Yusuf’s brother-in-law Azad had also joined.

“This gang is expert in cutting open ATMs. Post-interrogation, the names of many other people from Nuh might come to light. Along with this, incidents committed by this gang in other states, including Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, are likely to be revealed,” added Inspector Shaikh.

Delhi