Mumbai: D N Nagar police arrested a 55-year-old man for impersonating a police inspector and trying to extort money from hoteliers. According to police, the accused, Ishwar Advani, was arrested from Andheri Recreation Club late on Saturday night when a customer complained that a man in police uniform was continuosly staring at him. When confronted, it was revealed he was a history-sheeter with a case of outraging the modesty of woman registered against him.
Police said Advani was seen loitering around the area. He entered the club around 9.30pm to relieve himself. After using the washroom, Advani stood in the lobby and constantly stared at one of the male club members, making him uncomfortable. Retaliating to the uncomfortable staring, when the member asked Advani to stop staring, he refused to back down, instead asked him to behave himself and talk properly to a policeman. Matters worsened, leading to an altercation.
The altercation soon turned into a fight and police intervention was sought. When DN Nagar police reached the spot and questioned him, it came to light Advani was not a policeman but carrying a fake identity card, though he said he was a police inspector.
“He wanted to threaten the hotel staff and extort money. However, before he could do it, he got into a fight,and his extortion plans foiled,” said a police officer, requesting confidentiality. Advani was also named in a case of outraging a woman’s modesty registered at Andheri police station and was booked under section 354 of the Indian Penal Code.
After his arrest on Saturday night, Advani was booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for impersonating a public servant (section 170) and cheating (section 420). Police are investigating the matter and trying to ascertain if he had extorted money from other hoteliers.
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