Mumbai Crime: Police arrest money mule of inter-state gang

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The Bangur Nagar Link Road police have apprehended a money mule from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, who was part of an inter-state gang that allegedly defrauded a Mumbai-based doctor of R2.85 lakh. The members of the gang impersonated officials from both the pollution control board and the health department and threatened to seal the doctor's clinic.

The gang member arrested has been identified as Vimal Ratanlalji Sahu, 23. The Bangur Nagar Link Road police station's assistant police inspector (API) Vivek Tambe and his team apprehended Sahu in Bhopal even as search for other members of the gang is being undertaken. According to the police, an FIR was filed after the gang duped a doctor from Malad of Rs 2.85 lakh in August, 2023.

"The doctor, who operates a clinic in Evershine Nagar, Malad, received a call in July from an individual who posed as an officer of the pollution control board and the Indian health department. The caller claimed to have received a patient's complaint regarding the clinic and threatened to revoke his licence to practice and seal his clinic. Under duress, the doctor transferred approximately R2.85 lakh to the caller. The doctor approached the police on August 10 when he realized he had been conned.

"We registered the case and initiated an investigation under the guidance of DCP Ajaykumar Bansal. The police team of senior police inspector Pramod Tavde, API Vivek Tambe and Rahul Bhadarge from the cyber cell traced the bank account to which the funds were transferred," said an officer. Though the police identified the account holder as Sahu, the accused became alert when the police froze his bank account. Sahu was arrested by the Mumbai police after he absconded for over a month.

"During interrogation, Sahu revealed that he is in the money transfer business and facilitated fund transfer as a money mule for his fellow gang members who are active in Indore, Bhopal and other parts of Madhya Pradesh. Their primary targets appeared to be doctors across the country. Sahu received commissions on the fund transfers," said a police officer. Sahu has been presented before the court and remanded to police custody, the officer said.