Mumbai: Two cops held for extorting gems trader of Rs 10,000

The businessman’s tweet to the Mumbai police

An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and a police constable attached to Sir JJ Marg police station have been arrested for allegedly extorting a gems trader on Saturday morning. The police arrested the ASI, Sunil Vartak, 57, and Vijay Gaikwad, 32, soon after the businessman tweeted about the incident. The 40-year-old complainant, a resident of Girgaon, was on his way home from Ichalkaranji along with his cousin when their cab was halted by police officers at the JJ junction around 8.15 am.

Upon finding valuables in their possession, the accused made the duo step inside a police van and allegedly demanded '50,000 in return for their release. Eventually, they were allowed to go after handing over '10,000. After the complainant took to Twitter to inform the police about the incident, the authorities got in touch with him, promising that stern action would be taken. The complainant was asked to approach the Sir JJ Marg police station where his statement was recorded.

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Later the police registered an offence under sections pertaining to extortion (384), wrongful restraint (341) and common intention (34) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and arrested both of the accused. "We have also recovered the amount from them," said an official. Both of them were produced before the court, which granted them bail since nothing was to be recovered from them, added the officials. The businessman told mid-day, "I told them that I had all the necessary documents, but they were in no mood to listen. They didn't even allow me to make any calls."