Mumbai: Journalist, Retired Cop Among 5 Held in Aarey Fake Police Extortion Racket

In a major crackdown, the Aarey Police have exposed a dangerous network of fraud and blackmail operating in Mumbai, arresting five members of a gang that allegedly posed as police officials to extort money from unsuspecting victims. Shockingly, the accused include a journalist and a retired police officer.

According to police officials, the case came to light following a complaint filed by a 40-year-old woman. On February 15, 2026, the victim was lured to a villa in Royal Palms, Aarey Colony, under the pretext of a tarot reading session. Upon reaching the location, she was confronted by individuals who falsely identified themselves as police personnel.

The accused allegedly threatened to implicate the woman in a fake sex racket case and created an atmosphere of fear to coerce her into transferring ₹2 lakh online. After receiving the money, the accused fled the scene.

Following the complaint, the Aarey Police registered a case and initiated a technical investigation. Based on bank transaction details, the police first arrested Farhan Mustafa Qadri (33). During interrogation, he revealed the identities of other gang members, leading to the arrest of three more men and two women.

The arrested accused have been identified as Swapnali Nadekar (38), who claimed to be a social worker; Kavita Yadav (40), who runs a de-addiction centre in Dahisar; Rahul Kambli (41); journalist Pradeep Pathak (36); and retired Assistant Police Sub-Inspector Eric Girgol Vegas (60).

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the gang operated in a well-planned manner, trapping victims and extorting money by threatening reputational damage and legal consequences.

Police are now probing the extent of the racket, including how many people may have fallen victim to the gang and whether it is linked to a larger criminal network.