Two Cops Among Four Arrested for Kidnapping Andheri Paan Seller, Extorting ₹43,000

Mumbai, June 26 – In a shocking incident that has raised serious questions about police conduct, four individuals — including two serving police constables — were arrested by DN Nagar Police for allegedly kidnapping a paan shop owner in Andheri West and extorting ₹43,000 from him.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of June 24. The accused — constables Hemant Kapse and Sagar Wagh from the Local Arms (LA) division, along with their civilian accomplices Nitin Gadhve and Chandrashekar Darande — have been booked under multiple charges, including kidnapping, extortion, and impersonating government officials.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), complainant Mohammed Arif Faizan Khan (35) was at his stall in Andheri West around 4:45 PM when an Ertiga vehicle pulled up. Kapse and Wagh, posing as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officers, approached Khan and falsely claimed they had found gutkha — a banned tobacco product — in his possession.

The duo then forcibly bundled Khan into the car, claiming they were taking him to the FDA office near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. However, the vehicle instead headed towards Dockyard Road. During the drive, the accused allegedly demanded ₹3 lakh for Khan’s release. When he told them he had only ₹10,000, they coerced him into arranging more money.

Under duress, Khan managed to send ₹40,000 to an account linked to an individual identified as Akash Waghmare via a payment scan. In total, ₹43,000 was extorted from him.

Khan filed a complaint with the DN Nagar police, who acted swiftly to trace and arrest all four accused. The investigation is ongoing, and police are also looking into the role of Waghmare in the extortion scheme.

Senior officials have confirmed that departmental action will be taken against the two constables. The case has sparked public outrage and added pressure on law enforcement to ensure accountability within the force.

Further investigation is underway.