Cop, earlier hit in row over high-handedness, allegedly tried to extort an accused in a Rs 3.5-cr cheating case by offering bail for money; ex-cop among other accused
ACP Shalini Sharma was earlier hit by controversies for alleged high-handedness during Mumbai Baug protests at Nagpada
A cop, who received the President’s Police Medal for outstanding work, has been booked, along with two others, for allegedly extorting Rs 50 lakh from an accused arrested in a cheating case. Assistant Commissioner of Police Shalini Sharma was earlier hit by controversies for alleged high-handedness during Mumbai Baug protests at Nagpada. The two other accused include a suspended police officer and a private person.
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Money for bail
According to the complainant Saeeda Qureshi, 32, the incident took place in February 2021. She said her brother Wasim Qureshi was booked by Chembur police in a Rs 3.5-crore cheating case in 2020 and subsequently arrested him from Navi Mumbai in November that year. She claimed that while Wasim was lodged in Taloja jail, Chembur cops again sought his custody.
Advocate Chitra Salunkhe, for Qureshi, said, “When Wasim was taken in police custody in February 2021, the then Senior Inspector Shalini Sharma came to police station even when she was supposed to be on leave as she contracted COVID-19. Anil Jadhav, a former cop who was present in the cabin, asked Wasim to pay R50 lakh to get bail or accept R50 lakh and hand over his property in Chembur.”
Salunkhe added, “Sharma not only just came to the police station while she was infected, posing risk to others, but also made several WhatsApp calls to settle the matter through Jadhav and one Raju Sontakke. When she called Saeeda and asked to meet her in person at Carter Road, Bandra my client didn’t go. Wasim and his family were continuously pressured with threats of another case.”
When mid-day contacted Sharma, she didn’t respond to messages and calls.
How it came to light
According to the FIR, the incident took place from February 22 to 24 when Sharma and Sontakke called the family several times. On February 25, 2021, when Wasim was taken to Kurla Court, he narrated the ordeal.
Meanwhile, Saeeda and her mother recorded all the WhatsApp calls made to them and approached Mumbai Police. Following this, Unit 6 of Crime Branch conducted an inquiry and found substance in the allegations and subsequently an FIR was registered against Sharma, Jadhav and Sontakke under sections 385 (putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extor¬tion), 389 (putting person in fear of accusation of offence, in order to commit extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC. Assistant Commissioner Detection (East) has been given the inquiry.
Rs 50 lakh
Amount demanded by the accused
Who is Shalini Sharma
Sharma received the DG’s Insignia (medal) for meritorious service in 2020 and heads the Mumbai police’s elite Hostage Negotiation Team. There were allegations of high-handedness against her during anti-CAA protests at Nagpada, following which she was transferred from there to Chembur. In September 2021, she was again transferred from Chembur police station citing administrative changes. She was promoted to ACP in 2021 and was recently transferred to Nagpur City.
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