A 58-year-old man from Mumbai was duped into paying a fraudulent fine of Rs 40,000 after being confronted by a man posing as a narcotics officer. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening near Airoli when Vasant M, while on his way home from South Mumbai, stopped to chew tobacco. A man dressed in khaki trousers and black boots, riding a Bullet motorcycle, approached Vasant and accused him of spitting on a public road.
Claiming to be a narcotics officer, the impersonator instructed Vasant to get on his motorcycle and threatened to take him to the police station for the offense. The man initially demanded a fine of Rs 68,000, but eventually agreed on Rs 40,000. Vasant, believing the man’s authority, withdrew the money from two ATMs and handed it over.
After a brief ride, the fraudster led Vasant back to the location where he had parked his own bike, told him to wait, and then sped off with the cash. It wasn’t until the next day, after discussing the incident with friends, that Vasant realized he had been scammed. He reported the incident to the Navghar police, who have since launched an investigation.