A 39-year-old gas agency owner in Mumbai’s Malad area was allegedly cheated of Rs 1 crore by unidentified individuals who threatened him in the name of senior Mumbai Police officials. Terrified by the constant threats and fearing arrest, the businessman left his home and attempted to end his life, but timely police intervention averted a tragedy. The Dindoshi Police have registered a case of extortion against unknown persons.
A resident of Malad, the victim, Rahul Gupta, runs a gas agency in Kurar. He went missing a few days ago, prompting his wife to lodge a missing complaint. Acting on technical inputs, police traced him to Dahanu railway station in Palghar district, where he broke down and narrated his ordeal.
According to the complaint, Pravin
Khedekar, who lives near the gas agency godown, used to collect donations from the victim during the Ganpati festival. In September, Khedekar requested Rs 10,500 from him. Soon after, the victim received a call from an unknown person claiming to be a “Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Police,” who falsely alleged that Khedekar had committed a murder and that the gas agency owner had paid to carry it out. The caller demanded Rs 50,000 to “settle” the matter, Lokmat Times reported.
The accused later claimed they had “eliminated” Khedekar to save the victim and demanded Rs 2 lakh to erase the “stain” of murder from his name. The extortion escalated when another caller posed as the Mumbai Police Commissioner and threatened him. Out of fear, the businessman took loans from finance companies and even raised money on his agency’s credit, paying in cash and via online mode, with the amount totaling Rs 1 crore.
When demands continued, the distressed businessman left home on December 15, intending to end his life. Investigations revealed the gang used a senior citizen to collect cash from a garden.
A case has been registered under BNS Sections 308(4), 308(5), 308(6) and 3(5) against four unknown persons and further investigation is underway to trace the mastermind behind the extortion racket.
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