Ex-cafe manager, accomplices, rob owner posing as crime branch officers
What's the story
Six men impersonating crime branch officers allegedly robbed a cafe owner in Mumbai's Sion area of ₹25 lakh, an official said on Thursday.
The victim informed the police that these individuals arrived at his residence on Tuesday, claiming they were on election duty.
They also claimed to have information that the owner had kept money for the Lok Sabha elections.
According to police, the cafe's former manager, who was fired by the owner, was the mastermind behind the crime.
Investigation progress
Police suspect involvement of 2 police constables
The police also suspect the involvement of two police constables, one serving and one retired, in the robbery.
"They even asked Naresh (owner) to sign a document claiming that he didn't have any complaint against them. They threatened the complainant to not complain about it or else he would face consequences," said a police officer.
The robbers also used a police jeep to convince the complainant that they were real police officers.
Arrests
4 arrested in the robbery
So far, four of the six have been arrested.
"We have arrested Babasaheb Bhagwat, 50, a resident of Kurla West, Dinkar Salvi, 60, a resident of Nehru Nagar, Kurla East, Sagar Redekar, 42, resident of Parel, Vasant Naik, 52, resident of Sion, Shyam Gaikwad, 50, resident of Nagpada, and Niraj Khandagale, 34, resident of Govandi in this case."
"Naik used to work earlier in the hotel as the manager. But he was sacked," a police officer said.