‘Policemen wanted to frame businessman too’

MUMBAI: The policemen and their accomplices, who have been accused of extorting from a 29-year-old model, wanted to set up the businessman as well, the crime branch revealed.
The police said Aman, a shoot coordinator who is on the run in the case, had called the model to a five-star hotel to meet the businessman on April 3. Aman had promised the model that the businessman waiting in the room would give her Rs 2 lakh as advance for an assignment.
“It appears that Aman wanted to send the model to the businessman’s hotel room and then alert the police and get the room raided. By doing this, the gang would have extracted money from the businessman, the model and her friend. When the model refused to go to the room, their plan fell apart. Aman is then believed to have intimated the policemen to corner the model,” said a police officer. Six people, including two assistant inspectors and a constable, were arrested for abducting, confining and molesting the model. They were also booked for extorting nearly Rs 10 lakh in cash and jewellery from the model and her friend by threatening them.
The model’s complaint was ignored for four days after which she approached police chief Rakesh Maria.
On Saturday, the statements of witnesses were recorded. The police searched the homes of the accused. Investigators are trying to find out if the gang had duped others.
The financial transactions and bank accounts of a former minister’s son are also under the police scanner in the case. “The model’s friend’s mother deposited a few lakhs from her Indore bank account into the ex-minister’s son’s account,” said a police officer.