Fraud Cop No More: Dismissed Constable Arrested for Extorting Shop Owner in SoBo

South Mumbai: A 53-year-old dismissed police constable, Uttam Keshav More, was arrested on January 1 by Azad Maidan police for allegedly extorting Rs 8,400 from a pan shop owner in South Mumbai. More, who had a history of criminal activities, was dismissed from the force in 2008 for looting people under the guise of his police position.

On December 30, More impersonated a crime branch officer and accosted shop owner Suresh Ramdev Barai at his shop in SoBo. After flashing a fake ID card, More tricked Barai into getting into a taxi and taking him to Byculla, where he extorted Rs 8,400 via Google Pay from the shopkeeper.

Barai later registered an FIR with Azad Maidan police, which led to a manhunt for More. Armed with Barai's statement and technical evidence, the police tracked down More, who had previously been booked in several cases for similar crimes across the city.

After being arrested, More was presented in court and remanded to police custody for five days. Police authorities stated that More's knowledge of police functions made it easier for him to intimidate and deceive his victims.