Angadia extortion case: Crime branch names DCP-rank officer as accused

The Mumbai crime branch has named deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Saurabh Tripathi, an Indian Police Service officer, as an accused in the Angadia extortion case, which was registered at LT Marg police station last month

The Mumbai crime branch has named deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Saurabh Tripathi, an Indian Police Service officer, as an accused in the Angadia extortion case, which was registered at LT Marg police station last month.

Allegations were made by an Angadia association that the accused officers allegedly detained some Angadias on four different occasions in December 2021 and they allegedly extorted money from them. Representational image

The case is being investigated by the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of Mumbai crime branch, which has arrested three officers - police inspector Om Wangate, assistant police inspector Nitin Kadam, and police sub-inspector Samadhan Jamdade. Kadam and Jamdade are in judicial custody. Wangate, who was arrested on March 10, was again produced in court on Tuesday, which extended his police custody till March 19.

DCP Tripathi was named as an accused after the key accused, Wangate, allegedly revealed his name in the interrogation saying that he was acting on Tripathi’s verbal directions, a senior IPS officer said.

“Tripathi reported sick leave a day after the FIR was registered at LT Marg police station against the police officers for allegedly extorting money from a group of Angadia in December last year,” the officer said, adding Tripathi had gone incommunicado since he reported sick leave.

Allegations were made by an Angadia association that the accused officers allegedly detained some Angadias on four different occasions in December 2021 and by threatening to take action against them and informing the Income Tax department, they allegedly extorted money from them. Based on a complaint, an inquiry was conducted by Sawant and after evidence was collected, a case was registered.

Kadam and Jamdade were arrested by the crime branch. Wangate could not be traced and later, he approached the sessions court with an anticipatory bail plea which was rejected on February 28.

Wangate then moved the Bombay High Court on March 4, seeking anticipatory bail which gave him interim relief till March 9. Meanwhile, CIU recorded Wangate’s statement on March 7 and 8 at the crime branch office. Wangate then withdrew his plea from the high court on March 9 and he was arrested the next day.

During preliminary inquiry, Sawant recorded statements of Angadia service providers, witnesses to the incidents, and accused police officers, and also viewed footage of CCTV cameras installed at Pophalwadi, Mumbadevi police beat chowki, and LT Marg police station.

“The inquiry revealed that Wangate, Kadam and Jamdade on December 2, 3, 4 and 6 wrongfully restrained and extorted money from Angadias at Paphalwadi by threatening to report them to the Income Tax department,” the FIR said.

After getting approval from police commissioner Hemant Nagrale, Sawant himself got the FIR registered at LT Marg police station. However, he has not mentioned the extortion amount in the complaint.

After two police officers were arrested, DCP Tripathi of zone 2 was transferred to the operation branch in view of the ongoing investigation in the extortion case.