How cops in Gujarat’s Dang saved elderly pastor from digital arrest

Ahwa police filed a case under BNS Section 126(2) (for wrongful restraint), Section 204 (for falsely impersonating a public servant), Section 205 (that prohibits individuals from wearing public servant attire or carrying badges to deceive others), Section 319(2) (addressing punishment for cheating by impersonation), Section 351(2) (related to criminal intimidation), and IT Act section 66(d). They have also initiated an investigation. Rajwadi worked as a pastor at CNI Church, and is well-respected among people in Dangs and bordering districts in Maharashtra, said officials.

Rajwadi received a WhatsApp video call on March 18 afternoon, wherein the anonymous caller, dressed in police uniform, identified himself as police sub-inspector Rajiv Ranjan from Colaba police station. He told Rajwadi that a mobile phone was purchased with the latter’s documents and claimed that it was used in a case of money laundering.

As per the FIR, the caller allegedly also mentioned that four bank accounts had been opened in his name in Mumbai, and that those accounts were used in monetary transactions to the tune of Rs 20 crore involving 30 other bank accounts of Islam Navab Malik, who is the main accused in a money laundering case and is presently in the custody of Mumbai police.

The FIR further stated that Rajwadi’s wife Ujwalaben found him talking on the phone. He told her that the caller was a police officer from Mumbai. Ujwala left the room and called up her daughter Charlotte, who is a lawyer in Vadodara. Sensing something fishy, the daughter informed the Dangs police about the incident.

Ahwa police reached Rajwadi’s house, when he was still talking on the phone. They talked to the caller and disconnected the call.

Dangs Deputy Superintendent of Police, S G Patil, said: “We reached the house of pastor Rajwadi, who is financially sound, and if we had not reached on time, he would have transferred money to the conman. The caller was shocked to see policemen in uniform, and disconnected the call. We did not get a chance to talk to him any longer that could get us more details about them. We are taking help from technical experts to get some clue.“

Acting on the instructions of Dangs police, Rajwadi preached a gathering at CNI church in Ahwa on Sunday evening and shared details about the incident. Police were also present on the spot, and they handed pamphlets to the public to spread awareness about such gangs and frauds.

Rajwadi, meanwhile, said, “I was aware that such gangs operate. We get to hear awareness audios while making regular mobile calls, but here, the caller showed me the room, which looked like a police station. I could also see policemen in the room. They obtained details of my bank account and threatened me. They wanted money to help me evade police proceedings in a case lodged with Colaba police station. It was because of the intuition of my wife and then the steps taken by my daughter that the police reached my house on time and saved me.”