A payment made through means of a digital wallet platform which kingpin Ch. Praneeth Chowdhary used gave the police a crucial clue, which led to his apprehension.

According to Hyderabad City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar, the accused used Google Pay, popularly known as G Pay, to make payment at a hotel he was staying. Armed with this clue, police embarked on further investigation using technology and human intelligence and connected the dots. Chowdhary was then apprehended from a lodge in Kacheguda. The clue also helped police to prevent Chowdhary and his gang from executing another string of chain-snatchings which the former was allegedly planning.

Mr Kumar stated that police were ‘alarmed’ after the accused struck. This led to the formation of formed 120 teams to take stock of the situation and nab the accused. Police said they combed through 600 CCTV footages, kept an eye on important transit areas such as railway stations, bus stops and airports. They checked lodges and hotels and verified private travel agency details.

Police of other States such as Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi were also contacted. A team of the police also visited Bulandshahar, UP, from where the accused Choka hails and also Sorka, also in Uttar Pradesh which is Monu Valmiki’s native place.

Mr Kumar said that in four days as many as 21,000 two-wheelers were checked and around 1,600 cases were booked for displaying fake, damaged or incomplete number plates.

Police personnel of the SOT Rachakonda, Bhavani Nagar police station and South and East Zone Task Force participated in the operation.