The accused claimed to be I-T and crime branch officials, police said
Mumbai: Andheri police on Saturday arrested six people from Mumbai and Pune for allegedly posing as income tax (I-T) department and crime branch officials, abducting a businessman and his wife, conducting a fake raid at his Andheri East company and demanding Rs 1 crore to avoid further action. Senior inspector Machindar said the investigation led police to Santosh Khopatkar (37) and Vinay More (37) in Mumbai suburbs. Police traced Prem Sabnani (50), who had switched off his phone, to his home in Pune’s Sinhagad Road area. Police also traced Pragya HM (27) in Andheri East and Reshma Shyamrao Warang (41) in Nalasopara. The other accused were identified as Shabina Shaikh (48), Jitendra More and Ashok Shinde (57).
The July 17 incident at Two M Ophthotronics Pvt Ltd in Sahar Cargo Estate, Chakala, resembled the plot of Akshay Kumar-starrer “Special 26”. He was threatened on the phone and ordered to reach the office immediately. They were arrested and their mobile phones seized. Jitendra and Shinde are already in judicial custody in another case registered at Manpada Police Station. Police are investigating whether the group similarly targeted other businessmen. Claims that some people connected with Income Tax Department were involved are being independently verified, and police have drawn no conclusion against them.
Police registered the FIR on Friday on complaint received from company owner Rajkumar Kandasami who was told by employees that Income Tax officials had raided his office.