In a case of police impersonation, the Manpada police have arrested three individuals who allegedly duped an RTO agent out of Rs1 lakh by posing as police officers. The crime took place on November 23, 2024, in Dombivli, within the jurisdiction of the Manpada police station. One suspect remains at large.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Virendra Gupta, Pandey, and Vakil, all residents of Dombivli. The incident was reported by the complainant, Rameshwar Gupta, an RTO agent from Amardeep Colony in Dombivli. Gupta, who has known Virendra for years, was the victim of the scam.
According to the police, Virendra Gupta hatched a plan with his friends to impersonate police officers. The group entered Rameshwar Gupta’s office and falsely claimed that a case had been lodged against him with the Cuff Parade police station in Mumbai. They intimidated him with the threat of legal action, alleging he had issued a license without proper documentation.
The suspects then forced Rameshwar into their car, drove him to Khoni Road, and demanded ₹4 lakh. After further threats, they settled on Rs1 lakh, which Gupta was coerced into handing over.
After the incident, Rameshwar Gupta approached the Manpada police station to verify the identities of the alleged officers. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that there was no such case filed with the Cuff Parade police and that the suspects were not real police officers. The police then reviewed CCTV footage from the area and identified Virendra Gupta as a key suspect in the crime.
A police team was quickly formed, and on December 6, 2024, they arrested Virendra, Vakil, and Pandey. However, one suspect remains at large, and a manhunt has been launched for his capture.
The three arrested suspects have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for criminal impersonation and extortion. They were produced before the court, and police custody was granted for further investigation.