Extortion bid foiled,4 impostors held

Kokila’s Amedabad-based accomplices,Shankar Thakore (42) of Vejalpur; Jitendra Brahmbhatt (32),the son of a Shahibaug-based retired policeman; and Usman Memon (27) of Juhapura,had come to the story in a Ford Ikon. Another unidentified person had accompanied them as a press photographer,said the police.

“Flaunting her fake identity card,Kokila threatened the storeowner,Salim Mansuri that she had several complaints of food adulteration against him and wanted to take action. Thakore,Brahmbhatt and Memon posed as inspectors of the Gandhinagar Detection of Crime Branch (DCB),” said Inspector M B Nayak of Shahpur police.

Mansuri,however,suspected something and started questioning the five about their credentials. This led to commotion and aroused the curiosity of other storeowners and local residents,who gathered at the spot. “Amid the din,Mansuri’s younger brother called up Shahpur police station and intimated us,” Nayak added.

But before the police team could reach the site,one of the accused managed to escape. “Kokila,Thakore,Brahmbhatt and Memon were arrested red-handed and are presently under interrogation,” Nayak said.

Preliminary police investigation has revealed that the gang used to dupe ignorant people and extort money from them. “We have also seized fake identity cards of the Chamunda Consumer Society (CCS) from the accused. Investigations are underway and we cannot rule out the possibility of the gang duping more people. We have got some leads about the fugitive gang members and are trying to trace him,” Nayak added.