Four arrested for extorting jeweller in Mumbai

The police in Mumbai have arrested four men who pretended to be officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and extorted ₹11.50 lakh from a local jeweller. The crime took place in Bhuleshwar, a busy area for gold trading, when the jeweller was at his shop. The impostors, posing as IB officers, intimidated the jeweller by accusing him of illegal cash transactions in gold sales. They flashed fake ID cards and forced the shop's staff to turn off their phones and stay inside. They demanded ₹25 lakh to avoid legal trouble. When the jeweller said he could not pay that amount, the men threatened him further. Under pressure, he agreed to hand over ₹11.50 lakh. After collecting the money, they claimed they needed to take it to their superiors and left the shop. Realizing he had been cheated, the jeweller reported the incident to the police. Authorities began an investigation, collecting CCTV footage that helped identify the suspects. Within a day, the police arrested Pawan Chaudhary, Shreejet Gaikwad, Suryakant Shinde, and Kisan Shelar. Officials believe that Shelar may have given inside information about the jeweller to his accomplices. The police are questioning the suspects to see if they have committed similar crimes before. Authorities informed the public on how to identify fake IB officers. They remind people that real IB officials do not conduct raids or ask for money. It is important to verify their identities and to contact the police if something seems suspicious.