Jaipur: City Police Friday arrested five members of an interstate gang that posed as priests, invoked divine fear and walked away with jewellery, cash and valuables in a string of calculated cons across the city.Deputy commissioner of police (North) Karan Sharma identified the accused as Jabir Ali alias Jabir Punjabi, 41, Zafar Zaidi, 59, Ali Raza alias Guddu, 40, Ali Naqi Zaidi, 20, and Sheikh Arbaaz alias Sahil, 28, all residents of Nagpur.Sharma said the gang routinely drove down to Jaipur in an Alto car, executed quick-hit frauds and slipped out before victims realised they were duped.As per SHO Manak Chowk Rakesh Khyaliya, the gang struck again on April 2, targeting a jewellery trader in Jaipur. Posing as accomplished priests, they warned him of impending divine wrath, staged a ritual and fled with a bag containing 79 silver rings.Khyaliya said the police tracked the suspects through CCTV footage, mapped their escape route and launched a coordinated chase. Officers intercepted three accused near Dudu and picked up two more from Vidyadhar Nagar. Two suspects sustained minor injuries while attempting to flee and were given first aid.Investigators said the gang followed the same method. They parked their car 10-15 km away, took autorickshaws into crowded markets, identified targets and struck conversations laced with religious cues. Once trust set in, they induced fear-warning of curses and misfortune-then asked victims to close their eyes, clench their fists and take a few steps as part of a “ritual”. In those seconds, the gang lifted valuables and vanished.Police seized the Alto car used in the crimes. Multiple cases are registered against the accused in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Interrogation is underway to identify more victims and trace the wider network.
