Mumbai crime: Posing as cops, six men barge into cafe owner's home, take away Rs 25 lakh; four held

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Six men claiming to be from the crime branch entered a cafe owner's home in Mumbai's Sion area and allegedly took away Rs 25 lakh, an official said on Thursday. The police have arrested four of them, reported news agency PTI.

The complainant, who runs a popular cafe in the city's Matunga area, told the police that six persons came to his house near the Sion hospital on Tuesday saying they were from the Mumbai crime branch, reported PTI.

Mumbai crime: The men claimed that they were on election duty

The men claimed that they were on election duty and had information that he had kept money for use in connection with the Lok Sabha polls, the official said citing the complaint, reported PTI.

Mumbai will vote in the fifth phase of general elections on May 20.

The hotelier told them that he had only Rs 25 lakh cash from his food business and it had nothing to do with the elections, the official said, reported PTI.

However, the six accused took the money and left his home threatening to implicate him in a crime. The cafe owner then approached the Sion police station, prompting an investigation, reported PTI.

Mumbai crime: Police arrested four

During the probe, the police arrested four of the accused.

Cops suspect the involvement of a retired police constable and personnel of the police motor transport department in the crime, the official added, reported PTI.

Mumbai crime: Other cases

Two sisters have been arrested here for allegedly stealing jewellery, expensive clothes and other valuables worth Rs 55 lakh from the house of an elderly couple where they worked, police said on Tuesday, reported PTI.

Chaya Vetkoli (24) and Bharti Vetkoli (21) allegedly also made 'reels' or short videos wearing the stolen jewellery and clothes and uploaded them on Instagram, said an official of Kalachowki police station, reported PTI.

The couple recently lodged a complaint about jewellery, clothes and cash including foreign currency going missing from the house.

During the probe, police found that the couple's two domestic helps frequently uploaded reels showing off jewellery and expensive clothes, reported PTI.

The accused were nabbed from Raigad district two days ago and valuables worth Rs 55 lakh were recovered from their possession, the official said, reported PTI.

Both were booked under Indian Penal Code sections including 381 (theft by clerk or servant) and further investigation was underway, he added.

(With input from PTI)