Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 6: Andheri Police on Saturday arrested six people from Mumbai and Pune for allegedly posing as Income Tax (I-T) department and crime branch officials, abducting a businessman and his wife, conducting a fake raid at his Andheri East company and demanding Rs 1 crore to avoid further action.

The incident, which took place on July 17 at Two M Ophthotronics Pvt Ltd in Sahar Cargo Estate, Chakala, allegedly resembled the plot of Akshay Kumar-starrer _Special 26_.

Police registered an FIR on Friday following a complaint by company owner Rajkumar Kandasami. He was informed by employees that I-T officials had raided his office and was threatened over the phone and ordered to reach the premises immediately.

Sub-inspector Rohan Surve said two men in plain clothes approached Kandasami and his wife near their residence, identified themselves as I-T officials, showed an identity card and forced the couple into a cab before taking them to the company.

The accused allegedly seized the mobile phones of the couple and employees, restricted their movement, questioned staff and examined company documents.

One of the accused allegedly produced a purported search warrant and obtained Kandasami's signature on it.

The group allegedly threatened the businessman with a substantial penalty and later offered to "settle" the matter for Rs 1 crore.

The purported raid continued for more than three hours, with the accused leaving the premises around 8 pm.

### Police track suspects through CCTV, call data

Investigators analysed call records, mobile numbers, dump data, location information and CCTV footage to trace the suspects.

The probe was conducted by senior inspector Umesh Machindar, inspector Atul Nikam, assistant inspector Ramdas Kadam, sub-inspectors Rohan Surve and Rameshwar Karpe and other personnel under the supervision of DCP (West Zone-3) Datta Nalawade.

Police reconstructed the suspects' movements using footage from government and private CCTV cameras and traced them to Andheri, Vile Parle, Pune and Nalasopara.

Senior inspector Machindar said the investigation led police to Santosh Khopatkar (37) and Vinay More (37) in the Mumbai suburbs. They were arrested and their mobile phones seized.

Police also traced Prem Sabnani (50), who had switched off his phone, to his residence in Pune's Sinhagad Road area.

Pragya HM (27) was traced in Andheri East, while Reshma Shyamrao Warang (41) was traced in Nalasopara.

The other accused were identified as Shabina Shaikh (48), Jitendra More and Ashok Shinde (57). Jitendra More and Shinde are already in judicial custody in connection with another case registered at Manpada Police Station.

### Probe on to identify wider network

Investigators are searching for fake identity cards, government logos, rubber stamps, letterheads and purported search-warrant documents allegedly used in the operation.

The seized mobile phones are being examined for calls, chats, WhatsApp messages and financial transactions to identify the alleged main conspirator and other associates.

Police are also investigating whether the group had similarly targeted other businessmen.

Claims that some persons connected with the Income Tax Department were involved are being independently verified. Police have not drawn any conclusion against any such persons at this stage.