Two pose as cops to extort money,held

Police said the complaint in the case was lodged by Bhalchandra Bhandari (39),who is the trustee of the Ganesh temple located in Vazira Naka in Borivali (west).

On August 24,Lagade and Arthale went to the temple posing as officers from the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB). They asked for Bhandari’s number and when the staff refused,they threatened to take action against him. Fearing action the staff finally gave Bhandari’s number.

“A local person had written a letter to the ACB against Bhandari. However,there was no case filed and Bhandari was never accused or booked. The accused called up Bhandari on August 28 and asked him to meet them at Raj Mahal Hotel in Borivali west on August 31,as they wanted to settle his old matter once and for all. However,Bhandari suspected foul play,as the accused were reluctant to meet him in his office and also could not explain the exact nature of his earlier case. Following this,the complainant approached us,” said Bhagwan Chate,senior police inspector of Borivali police station.

Bhandari went to the hotel and met Lagade and Arthale who demanded Rs 15 lakh from him. They finally settled for Rs 4 lakh after negotiations.

“Our men dressed in civil clothes went to the hotel where the duo was sitting and nabbed them while accepting money. Their third accomplice Ram Sambhare was keeping a watch outside and as soon as he realised that his friends had been arrested,he fled,” added Chate. The accused were produced in the court and were remanded in police custody till September 6.