A set of nine antique telescopes, 13 compasses and a binocular worth crores of rupees in the international market were seized from a septuagenarian businessman on Wednesday.
The accused, who has been arrested, was planning to sell the antique articles owing to financial crunch and he was searching for buyers. On a tip-off, the sleuths of Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force (Central Zone) led by inspector Sayini Srinivasa Rao raided Mohammed Hafeezuddin’s house in Masab Tank and apprehended the accused and his two associates. Hafeezuddin (71) collected the antiques from his friends belonging to Nawabi families and kept them in his house for several years.
The other accused were Syed Azam (30), a realtor from Chandrayangutta and Mohammed Kaleemuddin (40) from Shaheennagar.
Mr Srinivasa Rao said that Kaleemuddin and Syed Azam were searching for buyers, as Hafeezuddin promised them commission.
“On Wednesday, the trio were apprehended while waiting for a buyers at Hafeezuddin’s house in Masab Tank,” he said. They also seized two telescope stands from their possession.
The accused along with the seized material were handed over to Saifabad police for further investigation.
Convicted for bike theft
A teenager was awarded rigorous imprisonment for 18 months by a local court in connection with bike theft. The convict was identified as B. Raghu (19), a student residing in Uday Nagar of Banjara Hills and a native of Kollapur in Nagarkurnool.