Ahmedabad: A 63-year-old retired bank employee was allegedly blackmailed by a gang posing as police officers, which extorted Rs 25 lakh from him over nearly a year by threatening to implicate him in a fake drug case. The gang said the punishment would be life imprisonment, according to a complaint filed with Anandnagar police on Monday.
They allegedly told him that the woman in his car was involved in a drug case and that he too would face life imprisonment. As he and the woman headed to Dehgam in his car, two men on a motorcycle intercepted the car. The duo claimed to be police officers.
The victim, a former senior special assistant with a nationalised bank, came in contact with a woman through Facebook around 15 days before Dhanteras in 2025. They allegedly took his mobile phone and demanded Rs 10 lakh. In Dec 2025, a man came to the victim’s house claiming that his Dehgam case had been reopened. He allegedly took the victim in a car to Chiloda Bridge and demanded another Rs 9 lakh. In April 2026, the victim allegedly received a WhatsApp call from one of the men, who demanded Rs 5 lakh and threatened to register an FIR against him.
The woman, who used the Facebook name Payal, exchanged messages with him and later called him to Dehgam Crossroads on Kali Chaudas. One of the men allegedly took the woman away on his motorcycle. Three more men then arrived, forced the victim into the rear seat of his car, and drove him around while threatening him. Unable to arrange the money from friends, the victim called his son. The alleged extortion continued. The victim arranged the money through his daughter-in-law. The cash was later handed over near Seema Hall. Fearing arrest, the victim withdrew his savings and handed over the money at Hanspura. Police have registered a case.
The victim later discussed the matter with his family and approached Anandnagar police, stating that the fear of social embarrassment had earlier prevented him from filing a complaint.