An AI-generated image of a police constable demanding money and threatening a grocery store owner
Pune: A police constable posted with Phursungi police station has been suspended after he allegedly demanded extortion and threatened legal action against a grocery store owner in Uruli Devachi and took Rs 1.65 lakh. On Oct 8, the constable and his aide approached the shop at Sahyadri Chowk in Uruli Devachi, and threatened to register a case against the grocer for selling gutka and demanded Rs 5 lakh on the promise of no legal action, according to the police. When the shopkeeper said he could not pay such a large amount, they took Rs 1.65 lakh from him and left the shop.
Police said the constable’s aide returned the money to the grocer after the video surfaced on social media. He has been suspended. They were seen collecting the cash and were heard demanding the extortion.
Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Tuesday said, “The deputy commissioner of police was conducting an inquiry against the constable. On Sunday, Phursungi police registered a case after CCTV footage of the constable and his Wadki-based aide from inside the shop was widely circulated on social media.