Cops arrest GRP constable, 5 others for cheating

The Bhandup police has busted a gang of conmen and arrested six people including a constable with the Government Railway Police (GRP) for cheating people under the guise of converting small denomination into Rs 1,000 notes. Police officers said that the accused would target businessmen and had cheated several people.

Their modus operandi included trying to lure businessmen by claiming that they had black money in the denomination of Rs 50 and Rs 100, which they wanted to convert to Rs 1,000 notes. They would promise the victim commission for the same. And once the victim was convinced and approached them with cash, they would stage a false police raid and make away with the money.

“They would approach businessmen saying they had connections with politicians and they would take care of the black money involved in the transaction,” said Vinay Rathod, deputy commissioner of police, Zone 7. He added that the victims, mostly businessmen, would be assured 20 to 30 percent commission on the total amount. “They would fix meetings with the victims in hotels and assure them that the deal was genuine,” said Mr Rathod.

The gang’s acts came to light in January this year when a hotelier from Ghatkopar was cheated to the tune of Rs 15 lakh. Bereft, he approached the police who started the investigations. “The victim was shown dummy bundles of cash with denomination of Rs 100 stashed in a bag. The accused asked them to collect cash from some other locations where other gang members would stage a police raid. This fake police troupe included the GRP personnel, who were an accomplice. Once the fake raid was successfully conducted, they decamped with the cash,” said Mr Rathod.

Investigators then went through surveillance cameras in the area and arrested six people from different locations in Mumbai and Thane. The police reveal that the accused might have gotten inspiration from a crime show or movie.