Udupi (IANS): The Udupi district police arrested six persons for allegedly cheating several persons on fraudulent assurances of giving them UAE currency at low prices in exchange for the Indian currency.

The arrested are Mohammed Polash Khan, 42, from Uttar Pradesh, residing in Delhi, Mahammed Mahatab Billal Sheik, 43, residing in Mumbai, Mahammed Firoz, 30, from West Bengal and residing in Delhi, Noor Mahammed, 36, from Haryana, Miraj Khan, 32, from Delhi and Mohammed Jahangeera, 60, from Delhi.

Udupi SP Akshay MH said that based on complaints received from the public in Brahmavar and Kota police stations that the miscreants were duping them by promising Dirhams at a lower price in exchange of currency, a special team was formed to crack the case.

On the modus operandi, the SP said, the accused would take the victims into confidence first by giving them UAE dirhams in exchange for Indian currency at a lower rate. Later, they would convince the victims that they have more foreign currency and would hand over the same for a lower price. Following this, the victims would be asked to meet them at a particular place where the accused would arrive with a packet. They would allegedly hand over a packet of soap wrapped in cloth instead of the Dirahams and even before the victims could examine the bag with alleged foreign currency notes, the accused would snatch away the cash and flee from the spot.

SP Akshay said that the accused have cases against them in Delhi and Davangere and they have allegedly committed similar offences in Hassan, Chitradurga and Chikkamagalur districts. The accused were arrested on March 31, and after getting their custody, the police were able to recover 32 foreign currency notes worth 100 dirhams, 19 mobile phones, Rs 6.29 lakh, three motorcycles and 30 sim cards.