Fake cop held for extorting money

A 31-year-old man, who posed as a police officer and extorted money from commuters, was arrested on Tuesday. The accused, Vinod Dhuri, works with a private firm, the Kurla government railway police said.

A 31-year-old man, who posed as a police officer and extorted money from commuters, was arrested on Tuesday. The accused, Vinod Dhuri, works with a private firm, the Kurla government railway police said.

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The complainant Bhavesh Shah, 33, who suspected a foul play after Dhuri intercepted him on December 30, approached the police. Dhuri approached Shah introducing himself as railway police constable Vinod Sawant and reportedly told Shah that a woman named Sangeeta Desai from Badlapur had complained that she was sexual harassed by him.

Dhuri, who was dressed in civil clothes, allegedly pulled Shah out the train at Ghatkopar station and threatened to arrest him if he did not pay Rs 40,000.

“We are finding out if he has committed similar offences before,” said Dilip Gore, senior police inspector.