Posing as cops, duo extorts 30k from trader

Rajkot: A case of extortion has emerged in which a man was allegedly threatened and forced to hand over Rs 30,000 in cash by two men posing as police officers.A Division police have arrested one of the accused, who has a history of similar offences. The victim, Janardan Sahani, 47, a paint trader, was targeted around 2.30pm on Wednesday while he was returning home from Virani Chowk for lunch. Two men stopped him near Astron Chowk, claiming to be police officers.
They flagged down Sahani's motorcycle and, under the threat of taking him to the police station, made him get onto their two-wheeler. Sahani was taken to the secluded Bhaktinagar Station Plot area, where the duo pressured him to transfer money online. When he could not do so immediately, he called an acquaintance to bring Rs 30,000 in cash, which the two took before fleeing. After Sahani filed a complaint, A Division police launched an investigation. Using CCTV footage and technical surveillance, they tracked down and arrested 26-year-old Sandeep Ramavat from the Dudhsagar Road area. Ramavat was found to have a record of posing as a police officer for extortion. The second man, identified as Altaf Memon, is currently absconding, and a manhunt has been launched. Police seized the two-wheeler used in the crime and recovered Rs 80,000, including the Rs 30,000 taken from Sahani. Ramavat and Memon have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 308 (2), 204 and 3 (5).Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !