Hyderabad: A 53-year-old habitual burglar with alleged past links to the Chhota Rajan gang, who fled Mumbai after a retaliatory gun attack more than two decades ago, was arrested by Hyderabad police during a late-night vehicle check at Mallepally crossroads along with an accomplice.Police seized gold and silver ornaments worth ₹33.71 lakh from the accused, who are suspected to be part of an interstate burglary network. The arrested were identified as Saleem Qureshi (53), a chef residing in Tolichowki, and his brother-in-law Mohammed Ghouse Pasha (33), a driver. Another associate, Saber, a Mumbai resident, is currently absconding. Qureshi admitted to police during interrogation that he had committed more than 200 house burglaries in different states.According to police, Qureshi was associated with the Chhota Rajan gang, allegedly taking part in activities such as gold smuggling and land settlements.Investigators said that in 2000, Qureshi allegedly stole gold and diamonds worth ₹9.5 crore from the residence of a gangster in Mumbai. The theft reportedly triggered a violent retaliation by masked gunmen in Navi Mumbai, during which two of his associates were killed. Fearing for his life after the attack, Qureshi fled Mumbai and moved to Hyderabad in 2001. Police said Qureshi had a troubled childhood and was raised by adoptive parents after the suicide of his biological parents. He later worked with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation before drifting into substance abuse and organised crime. After settling in Hyderabad, he initially tried to run a legitimate business but returned to crime after financial setbacks. Over the years, he allegedly became a habitual burglar operating across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. His modus operandi involved conducting daytime reconnaissance in a second-hand car to identify locked houses and returning late at night to break into them and steal gold and silver ornaments. Police said Qureshi later formed a burglary gang and worked closely with his brother-in-law Pasha. The duo allegedly collected stolen ornaments from gang members and melted them into gold biscuits at Qureshi’s residence to conceal their origin before selling them to jewellery traders in markets such as Nashik and Hyderabad. Officials said the accused were involved in at least eight major property thefts across multiple states during 2025 and 2026. Police are now trying to trace other members of the gang and recover additional stolen property. Efforts are also underway to arrest the absconding accused.
