MUMBAI: A Class 12 pass-out allegedly took a leaf out of the bollywood movie ‘Special 26’ and tried to play a Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) officer, but his act ended with him in police custody. The unemployed man allegedly posed as an MPCB field officer, collected ₹ 10,000 from a Goregaon factory owner by threatening action over pollution violations and was arrested when he returned to demand more money, police said.
The accused has been identified as Swaraj Ghosalkar, who allegedly used the name Sachin Mahadik while posing as an MPCB field officer. We have not found any previous record of him committing a similar offence. Following which, officers reached the premises and arrested him. Police have registered a case for alleged impersonation and extortion. The investigation is underway.”
Abdul Shaikh, senior police inspector of Vanrai police station, said, “The accused is unemployed and has studied up to Class 12. He took inspiration from the movie Special 26 and extorted ₹ 10,000 from the complainant. The complainant, Shailesh Povale, 52, owns Lakshmi Metallurgical and Marine Engineers at Kothari Industrial Estate in Goregaon East. On August 25, Povale was told by his accountant, Vijay Mandavkar, that an MPCB officer wanted to meet him, according to police. He then instructed his accountant to give Ghosalkar ₹ 10,000 in cash.
Povale told police that Ghosalkar warned him of consequences if he did not pay. He was arrested by Vanrai police after the factory owner alerted them when Mahadik returned to the premises on Tuesday. When Ghosalkar arrived around 10am on Tuesday, Povale alerted the police.
