Fake cop dupes Vile Parle resident of Rs 13,000 over gutka threat

A 49-year-old commuter was duped of Rs 13,000 on Saturday morning by a conman impersonating a police officer near the Adarsh Petrol Pump on Nehru Road in Vile Parle (East), Mumbai. The impersonator targeted the victim by threatening to book him and send him to jail for three months for chewing gutka, a substance that is banned in the state of Maharashtra.

The incident occurred between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM when the victim, Manoj Patel, a resident of Vile Parle (East), was walking to catch a train to reach his workplace located at Masjid Bunder.

According to the Vile Parle police, the unidentified suspect, estimated to be between 40 and 45 years old, approached Patel on a two-wheeler. The conman then flashed what appeared to be a police identity card to convince Patel of his authority.

The suspect demanded a fine of Rs 25,000 from Patel for chewing gutka. He warned the commuter that failing to pay the fine would result in him being locked up in jail for a period of three months.

Under the threat of imprisonment, Patel was forced to comply with the suspect's demands. The accused made the victim walk to a nearby automated teller machine (ATM) to withdraw cash. Patel withdrew Rs 13,000 from the ATM and handed the money over to the conman to avoid any further police action.

After taking the cash, the suspect fled the scene on his motorcycle. Following the incident, Patel approached the local authorities to report the crime.

The Vile Parle police have officially registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter. A police official stated that a team has been specifically formed to trace the unidentified conman.

As part of the ongoing investigation, the police team is scanning closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from cameras in the Vile Parle (East) area. Investigators are trying to identify the exact route the suspect took on his motorcycle after fleeing the scene of the crime.