Mumbai: Ville Parle police arrested nine people on the basis of charges of robbing Rs 12 crore from two persons at a Five-star hotel in Vile Parle. The accused posed as police officers and showing excuses of a raid, ‘seized’ the cash and escaped from the hotel.
Deputy commissioner of police Manjunath Shinge, Zone 8, confirmed the development but refused to uncover the details as the accused are being interrogated and efforts are on to recover the stolen cash. A police officer said that the victims are outsiders and were staying in the hotel in East Vile Parle. The two were waiting for some other people who are in hawala transactions as wanted to send Rs 12 crore to someone in Canada through hawala.
On February 17, two people from hawala, undertaking transactions visited them. While the cash was being counted for hawala transactions, four people posing as police personnel barged into the room around 4 pm, said the officer. “Showing excuses of a police raid, the four accused seized the cash. They told the four people in the room that the money has been obtained through illegal activities and hence was seized. After some discussions, they agreed to a settlement against some monetary consideration,” said a senior police officer.
The victims later learnt that they were imposters. Anand Ingale, 29, reported local police about the incident, who is a labour contractor and a social activist. The police registered an FIR and multiple police teams swung into action. The enquiry revealed that the robbers had shown their (fake) identity cards to enter the hotel. “Based on the leads obtained from the enquiry with hotels staff and CCTV footage, police zeroed in on some suspects and on Friday arrested nine accused who reportedly admitted their involvement in the robbery,” said the police officer.
Police arrested all nine people under sections 392 (robbery), 170 (personating public servant) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. A local court has remanded them in police custody.
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