Three arrested from Malad for posing as cops, cheating woman

The Mumbai crime branch arrested three persons on Tuesday for cheating and impersonation. Two of the accused posed as police officers.

According to an FIR registered by victim Heena Arvind Charla (40), she works at an incence candle manufacturing and distribution company at Malad (east). One of the accused Shailesh Pol (33) worked as a sales manager at the same company.

Police said on September 22, Heena borrowed Rs1.35 lakh from Shailesh. The sum was deposited in her account. On October 4, the victim was introduced by Shailesh to one Raju in Miraj, Sangli. Raju told her he specialised in printing and chemical business and also printed foreign currency notes. While they drove further, along with Rs12 lakh fake currency in a car, the accused, Thomas Vasant Navgire (56) and Dilip Shankar Pol (60), impersonated as officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and intercepted them. They threatened them with a false case. They faked arresting Shailesh and let off Heena. She returned to Mumbai. Suspecting foul play, Heena approached the Dindoshi police and lodged a complaint on October 6. Later, the case was transferred to the crime branch.

A police official said, “The accused Thomas Vasant Navgire, Shailesh Dilip Pol and Dilip Shankar Pol have been arrested from Malad and booked for criminal breach of trust (Section 406), cheating (Section 420), criminal conspiracy (Section 120 (B)) and common intention (Section 34) of the IPC. Raju is absconding.”

Navgire is a priest at Miraj Catholic church. Pol looks after the sales of a company at Pune, Solapur, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur.