A 40-year-old man, who was externed from the limits of greater Mumbai in January after a string of extortion resurfaced with a brand new personality to con the public.
A 40-year-old man, who was externed from the limits of greater Mumbai in January after a string of extortion and molestation cases was registered against his name, resurfaced with a brand new personality to con the public.
Posing as a journalist of a weekly Hindi magazine, he boasted of his contacts with the powers-to-be, and arm-twisted Dharavi residents to cough up huge sums of money.
In his new avatar, Dev Krishna Mali paraded through the streets of Dharavi, threatening residents that he would exposing their “corrupt” activities unless they pay up.
His masquerade ended after Dharavi cops spotted him on Wednesday and put him in the lockup. He would be produced in court for remand on Thursday. Initial investigations revealed that Mali despite the court order had never left Mumbai.
Police officials said that before he was externed, Mali was bald and had a long beard. In his effort to con the cops, he shaved off his beard and wore a wig.
“He seems to have undergone some facial surgery to get a different look,” said Prakash George, senior inspector of Dharavi police station. Mali functioned under the assumed name of ‘B Shukla’ and claimed to be the editor of a Hindi weekly, Janhit Times Pariharit.
“His main targets were people who made illegal alterations to their homes without seeking permission of civic authorities,” added George. Mali also operated under another assumed name ‘JP Patwa’.
Police recovered letters, written in letterheads of various governmental authorities, including BMC, State Human Rights Commission and Mumbai police commissioner’s office. “Using his fake press card, he gained entry to the Lok Ayukta, a local court, and frightened people with those letterheads,” said a police official.
Police were surprised that a person, who had been externed from city limits, dared to roam around in a new avatar, conning people. “It seems that he belongs to a larger racket,” added the officer.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}