Police found that the group procured commercial gas cylinders and sold them illegally to hotels and restaurants at higher rates. A dealer and 10 others were arrested.

414 cylinders seized; fake shortage rumours spread

Task Force Deputy Commissioner of Police Raghunath said 414 gas cylinders were seized. "The accused have been running this black market operation for the past one-and-a-half years. They created rumours of gas shortage," he told reporters.

The accused sold commercial cylinders priced at ₹2,000 for ₹6,000.

Storage at Panjagutta; network spans multiple locations

Police said the cylinders were stored at a crematorium in Panjagutta. Eleven vehicles were also seized.

The gang operated a warehouse in Shamshabad and maintained an office in Afzalgunj. The main accused, Mohammed Ameer, is a resident of Banjara Hills, police said.