2 IMPERSONATE THANE MP, DUPE BIZMAN, HELD; ONE ON THE RUN

THANE : Two people, including a senior citizen, were arrested on Thursday for allegedly impersonating Thane Lok Sabha member of Parliament (MP) Rajan Vichare and trying to cheat a businessman over phone in Thane. The police are trying to arrest one more accused, who is absconding.

The accused have been identified as Rajesh Krushnaprasad Mishra, 65, and Siddesh Sudhakar Samant, 38. They were produced in court on Thursday and remanded in police custody till November 24. Despite multiple attempts, Vichare could not be contacted for a comment.

The complainant, who runs a sweet shop, received a call on Tuesday. The accused, posing as Vichare, asked him to donate money for a ‘Children’s Day’ event they were organising near Talao Pali. However, when the complainant checked with Vichare’s office, he found that there was no such event being organised by Vichare in Thane.

Following this, the complainant lodged a police complaint on Wednesday. He also gave the police a recording of the phone call, which helped them conclude it was fake.

The police said the accused have, in the past, impersonated member of legislative Assembly (MLA) Pratap Sarnaik (Shiv Sena) and MP Gopal Shetty (Bharatiya Janata Party) and cheated businessmen and local politicians from Thane and Mumbai.

They have more than 12 cases registered against them. Mishra compiled the contact numbers of businessmen and politicians, while Samant mimicked voice of political leaders, said police.

THE ACCUSED HAVE 12 CASES AGAINST THEM. THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY IMPERSONATED MLA PRATAP SARNAIK AND MP GOPAL SHETTY