Mumbai Police have arrested a habitual offender who posed as a police officer to rob foreign nationals. The Mata Ramabai Ambedkar (MRA) Marg Police have busted the case involving the robbery of ₹66.45 lakh from a Kenyan woman tourist, recovering over ₹79 lakh in cash and the two-wheeler used in the crime.
The incident took place on January 27 afternoon on M.G. Road in the Fort area. The complainant, Sumayya Mohammed Abdi (26), a Kenyan national, was travelling in a taxi when two unidentified men intercepted the vehicle. Claiming to be police personnel, they checked the taxi and, on the pretext of verification, took possession of a bag containing ₹66.45 lakh in cash. They then asked her to come to the police station and fled from the spot on a motorcycle.
Considering the seriousness of the crime involving a foreign national, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1, Dr Pravin Munde, ordered an immediate investigation. Under the supervision of PSI Suraj Devre, the detection team scanned 50 to 60 CCTV camera footages from the area. With the help of technical analysis and confidential informants, the police traced the accused and laid a trap outside his residence in Thane, where he was apprehended.
The arrested accused has been identified as Suresh Ranganath Chavan (48), a resident of Thane and originally from Badnapur in Jalna district. Police have seized ₹79,35,800 in cash and a Honda Trigger motorcycle used in the commission of the crime.
A case has been registered at MRA Marg Police Station under Sections 319(8), 204 and 3(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Further investigation is underway.