The crime branch arrested three persons and five mobile phones, a fake police identity card, a handcuff and a car bearing a police licence plate were seized from them.
A few days back, crime branch officials were shocked to learn that a case of kidnapping and extortion had been registered against anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and their officials by a tour and travel operator from Mankhurd.
However, on Thursday, the crime branch arrested three persons and five mobile phones, a fake police identity card, a handcuff and a car bearing a police licence plate were seized from Yogesh Laxman Bhoir, Raju Sontakke and Raju Sagir Khan alias Azimuddin.
According to the police, three years back, Mohammad Mukhtar Abdul Meher worked at a tour and travel company owned by Anis Khan at Malad. Khan was arrested in a criminal case, following which Meher started his own company.
On August 23, three persons entered Meher’s office and identified themselves as ATS and crime branch officials. “They told Meher to come with them to the crime branch’s Chembur unit office for inquiries.
They made him sit in a car and took him to Wadala, Vashi and Dadar,” a crime branch official said.
The official said that to make the incident realistic, the kidnappers took Meher to the Chembur unit office but parked the vehicle outside. “They then told Meher to pay Rs2 lakh to get away, and threatened to book him in a cheating and human trafficking case,” the official said.
They then left, telling them to arrange for the amount by the time they return.
Meher then registered a case of kidnapping and extortion at the Mankhurd police station, after which the case was handed over to the Chembur unit for investigation.
The three were arrested near Amar Cinema on Thursday, when they arrived to collect the money.
“We have not seen anyone using handcuffs and a vehicle bearing a police licence plate to kidnap someone. It is a daring crime. We will investigate from where they managed to get all these things,” a crime branch official said.
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