Hyderabad, May 11 (IANS): A court on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment seven members of a "snake gang" involved in dacoity, extortion and other crimes by threatening the victims with snakes.

The main accused, Faisal Dayani, a gym instructor, and others were convicted for dacoity, extortion, trespass and other crimes.

Those sentenced to life are Dayani, Khader Barakba, Tayyab Basalama, Mohammed Parvez, Sayyad Anwar, Khaja Ahmed and Mohammed Ibrahim. The eighth accused, Ali Barakba, was sentenced for 20 months.

The Ranga Reddy district court, which on Tuesday convicted eight out of nine accused, pronounced the quantum of punishment on Wednesday. The ninth accused, Salam Handi, was acquitted.

The sensational activities of the gang came to light in July 2014 when a woman lodged a complaint with the police that the gang raped her in front of her fiance.

After barging into a guest house in Pahadi Shareef area on the city's outskirts, the accused also looted Rs.60,000 from the couple.

The gangrape charge was not proved but they were convicted under Section 354 B of Nirbhaya Act (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe woman).

Police investigations subsequently revealed that the gang was involved in various crimes like extortion and settling of disputes by threatening their victims with snakes.

Police identified 37 such victims and after collecting the evidence produced the same before the court.