The Crime Branch has arrested Aakash Patel, a suspended police constable, in connection with an extortion case where he and two accomplices allegedly impersonated Crime Branch officers to extort money from unsuspecting citizens. The duo of Prithvirajsinh Gohil and Satvik, who are also involved in the scam, are currently on the run.
According to Crime Branch officials, the incident occurred on December 27, when the suspects approached Mihir Patel, a resident of Sentoja Park in Ambli, who owns MP Financial, a business dealing with insurance and mutual funds. The trio falsely informed Mihir that a case had been filed against him under the Foreign Currency Act and claimed to have arrested two individuals who had implicated him as an accomplice. They further threatened to arrest Mihir and insisted on taking him to the Crime Branch office.
The suspects then drove Mihir to the basement parking lot of Shivalik Shilp, where they continued their intimidation, eventually extorting Rs 50 lakh from him. Realizing he had been scammed, Mihir contacted the Crime Branch and filed a complaint.
Based on Mihir’s description of the suspects and after reviewing CCTV footage from his office and the parking lot, Crime Branch officials identified Aakash Patel as one of the culprits. Aakash, a resident of Sanand, was arrested shortly after the investigation began. However, his associates, Prithviraj Gohil and Satvik, remain at large.
The Crime Branch is continuing their efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects and expand the investigation into their criminal activities.