Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 28: Kherwadi police have arrested three Powai residents for allegedly posing as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials and extorting Rs 19,500 from a businessman after accusing him of smoking inside an auto-rickshaw.

The accused have been identified as Amit Kulaye (34), Sudheer Pujari (32) and Vinod Sadar (36). They were arrested on Wednesday with assistance from the Powai police detection staff led by Assistant Inspector Pranod Mane, following an FIR registered on August 28.

According to police, complainant Jubin Shah (37), a businessman from Ghatkopar East, was travelling home in an auto-rickshaw at around 10.45 am on May 25.

When the vehicle reached Hans Bhugra Junction on the Western Express Highway, under the Vakola bridge in Bandra East, two men riding a motorcycle allegedly stopped the rickshaw.

Police said the duo claimed to be BMC employees and accused Shah of smoking inside the auto-rickshaw, telling him that he had to pay a fine.

When Shah asked them to show their identity cards, the accused allegedly warned him not to “act smart” and pointed towards another man who had arrived on a second motorcycle.

The trio allegedly claimed that the third man was their superior and demanded Rs 19,500 from Shah as a fine. They also allegedly asked him to accompany them to the police station before leaving the spot.

Shah subsequently approached Kherwadi police, who registered an FIR on August 28.

Investigators examined CCTV footage from the area and used technical surveillance to trace the accused to Powai. The trio was subsequently arrested with the assistance of Powai police.

Police said a portion of the allegedly extorted money had already been spent. They recovered Rs 10,850 and seized two motorcycles from the accused.

The three accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody for two days.