4 posing as CBI officials duped jeweller of Rs 40L in Delhi, held
Darpan News Desk IANS, 10 May, 2023 02:06 PM
New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested four men, including the kingpin who was inspired by Bollywood flick 'Special-26', for impersonating as CBI official and cheating a jeweller to the tune of Rs 40 lakh in the national capital, an official said on Wednesday.
The accused were identified as Sandeep Bhatnagar (54), Pawan Gupta (47), Yogesh Kumar (58) and Himanshu alias Dinesh (35), all residents of Delhi.
Special Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Singh Yadav said that the complainant Harpreet Singh, who is running his jewellry shop at the ground floor of his residence in Delhi's Farsh Bazaar area, reported on April 17 that six individuals including one woman entered his shop, introducing themselves as CBI officials.
"They informed the complainant that he was involved in illegal gold business and was in possession of the same. They further asked if he wanted to settle, the complainant must pay them Rs 1 crore. Being surprised and scared by the actions of these fake CBI officials, the complainant paid Rs 40 lakh in cash and 500 grams of gold to them. While leaving, the suspect also took DVRs of the CCTV cameras installed at the business," said the Special CP.
During investigation, the police tasked with the probe scanned multiple CCTV cameras installed in the area and subsequently, the accused were identified and four of them were nabbed from their residences in Delhi.
During interrogation, it was revealed that Bhatnagar is the mastermind and kingpin of the gang.
"Being deeply influenced by the movie 'Special-26', Bhatnagar directed the present episode in consensus with his accomplices, Pawan, Himanshu, Yogesh and two others," said the Special CP.
"Bhatnagar with his accomplices entered the business of the victim, impersonating and posing himself as a high ranked CBI official and his accomplices as his subordinates. While entering the business, the accused were wearing fake identity cards of CBI and were carrying walky-talky in their hands," said the official.
The Special CP said that further probe is going on to nab the remaining accused.
The cause of the provocation is yet to be ascertained, an official told IANS, adding the situation is under control. Videos of the ruckus were viral on the social media. Many parked vehicles and a nearby police station was pelted on with stones.
The court had, on March 4, extended Sisodia's CBI custody for two days and listed his bail plea for March 10 and in the last two days, the CBI questioned him with key witnesses -- former excise commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna and former excise department secretary C. Arvind -- in this case, who recorded their statements in front of a magistrate.
A police official said that the two men, wearing masks, entered the bank branch at around 9.45 a.m. when only three employees were present there, and threatened the staff with a pistol. They forced the staff to open the vault where Rs 10 lakh was kept and fled with the money by 10.30 am.
The Chief Minister, who reviewed the arrangements for the mega event here, said Punjab is fully ready to host the sessions and asked the officers to ensure foolproof arrangements for the working sessions slated to take place at the holy city of Amritsar next week.
The arrested customers have been identified as Anil, Rajan, Sagir, Abhishek and Harish. The house belongs to one Neeraj Bhati. Police recovered six mobile phones, Rs 2,100 in cash and objectionable items from their possession.
As during over one-hour address in English, the Governor was referring to 36 government school principals being sent on a five-day leadership development programme to Singapore, Bajwa again stood up and reminding Purohit about his letter to Mann on the issue.
