Three arrested in Rajendra Nagar murder case

Hyderabad: The Cyberabad Police arrested three men, including the owner of a hotel on charges of murder hours after a realtor was brutally stabbed, hacked and bludgeoned to death in public view on the main road near Pillar No 248 in Rajendranagar.

The arrest came on Monday evening, even as a video of the gory murder, shot by a bystander, was going viral on social media. The victim was identified as Mohammed Khaleel (33). The arrested persons were Shaik Rasheed (29), chef and owner of Garib Nawaz Hotel at MM Pahadi in Rajendranagar, and his chefs, Mohammed Azmath (28) and Syed Imran (27).

Police said Khaleel used to lend money to people for interest and Rasheed, who renovated his hotel prior to the lockdown, had borrowed Rs 15 lakh in various installments from him. He was paying interest on a monthly basis despite the lockdown and lack of business, said N Prakash Reddy, DCP (Shamshabad), adding that Rasheed had taken loans from others too.

As he ran into severe debts, Rasheed recently approached Khaleel again asking for with Rs 50 lakh to clear all of his debts. However, Khaleel allegedly insisted that he hand over



his hotel till repayment was done.

“Rasheed refused and Khaleel started pressurising him to repay his loan. Rasheed then plotted to eliminate him,” the DCP said, adding that he sought the help of his chefs. They purchased two knives from Charminar and two spade handles from a shop in MM Pahadi and around 11 pm on Sunday, called Khaleel to meet them near HF Convention Function Hall to collect his money.

“There, they attacked him with the spade handles and knives on the middle of the road. When Khaleel tried to escape, one of them grabbed a cement block and repeatedly hit him on his head while the others kept attacking him with the spade handles and knives. He died on the spot,” police said.

The trio, who had gone to Jalpally and changed the bloodstained clothes, which they disposed of near the AG College, were nabbed following a tip-off.

Police, who identified the suspects with the help of CCTV footage, produced the accused before the court, while Khaleel’s body was handed over to relatives after autopsy at the Osmania General Hospital morgue.