Three Arrested for Impersonating BMC Staff, Extorting Businessman in Bandra East

The Kherwadi police have arrested three men from Powai for allegedly posing as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials and extorting Rs 19,500 from a businessman under the Vakola bridge in Bandra East.

The arrested accused have been identified as Amit Kulaye, 34, Sudheer Pujari, 32, and Vinod Sadar, 36. The arrests were carried out on Wednesday following an investigation assisted by the Powai police detection staff, led by Assistant Inspector Pranod Mane.

According to the police, the action followed a First Information Report registered on August 28 based on a complaint filed by Jubin Shah, a 37-year-old businessman residing in Ghatkopar East.

The incident took place on the morning of May 25, around 10:45 am, when Shah was travelling home in an auto-rickshaw. When the vehicle reached the Hans Bhugra Junction on the Western Express Highway, located under the Vakola bridge in Bandra East, two men riding a motorcycle intercepted it.

The two men claimed to be BMC employees and accused Shah of smoking inside the auto-rickshaw, informing him that he was required to pay a fine. When Shah asked to inspect their official identity cards, the men allegedly told him not to act smart and directed his attention toward a third accomplice who had arrived on another motorcycle.

Claiming that the third man was their boss, the trio demanded a sum of Rs 19,500 as a fine from Shah. The suspects allegedly asked the businessman to accompany them to the police station and subsequently left the spot after taking the money.

Following the registration of the complaint at the Kherwadi police station, investigators tracked down and apprehended the three accused.