HYDERABAD: In a major break through, Hyderabad police busted a racket in which eight sheikhs' from Oman and Qatar, who were in the process of marrying minor girls from Old CIty of Hyderabad, were arrested. Interestingly, these sheikhs, who are above 70-years-old are using steroids.
Apart from the eight foreigners, three Qazis which includes Mumbai Chief Qazi Fareed Ahmed Khan, four lodge owners and five brokers from Hyderabad were arrested by police.
Hyderabad police will hold a press conference in the afternoon on this issue. The eight foreign nationals who were in connivance with brokers, have been seeing minor girls to select one of their choice before getting married, by promising them to pay money besides taking them to Gulf countries, where they can have a happy life. Police are verifying the role of eight more members from various Gulf countries, apart from the eight already arrested. The persons who are under the scanner, came to Hyderabad in the pretext of medical treatment.
The kingpin in this racket turned out to be Fareed Khan, who by being in touch with various brokers organise these illegal marriages, is helping them in giving marriage certificates by showing the minors as major.
"Though the marriage takes place in Hyderabad, the accused Fareed has been giving marriage certificates as if the marriage took place in Mumbai. Later, using his links, he will also facilitate in getting the minor's visas, so that these sheikhs can take the respective minor to their countries," sources in Hyderabad police told TOI.
In fact, the lodge owners are playing a key role by allowing their premises- for Sheikhs' to get married.