Fake ACB officials extort Rs 1.5L from Mumbra doctor in Thane, arrested

Five people, including two women, were arrested for posing as Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials and extorting Rs 1.5 lakh from a doctor who ran a private clinic in Mumbra-Kausa in Thane.

Shil-Dhaighar police arrested the five accused, who have been identified as Sandeep Kambale, 32, Ashok Shirvade, 30, Shailesh Yadav, 31, Savita Jadhav, 30, and Anita Thapa, 40. They are residents of Ghansoli and Koparkhairane in Navi Mumbai. They were passport agents and operated a travels and tourism business.

The complainant, Nadeem Shahjaha Baig, alleged that the five accused came to his clinic posing as ACB officials on Wednesday. They demanded Baig show them the abortion pills kept at the clinic, since in Maharashtra, there is a ban on these pills. Baig showed them what he had and he saw them prepare a panchnama (paper work) and ‘file’ a case against him. Showing him they had completed the required formalities, they demanded Rs 2 lakh to close the case, if Baig wanted to clear his name. Later, the impostors reduced the amount to Rs 1.5 lakh. If he wished to continue his practice, he should come with the money to Koparkhairane, they threatened.

Police sources said Baig immediately approached the police station and booked a case against them. Based on his complaint on Thursday, the police arrested the impostors. Vishal Dhaygude, Police Sub Inspector, ShilDaighar, said, "We laid a trap near Pancharatna hotel at Koparkhairane. We arrested them as they were accepting the money from the complainant".

A case was registered against them on Friday under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. The accused were produced in court and remanded in police custody for two days.