Navi Mumbai: Six booked for posing as ACB officials, raiding bar

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Six persons allegedly posed as officials of the anti-corruption bureau and raided a bar and restaurant in Navi Mumbai, police said on Friday, reported news agency PTI.

An offence has been registered against the alleged accused under sections 170 (personating a public servant), 342 (wrongful confinement) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and no arrest has been made so far, an official said, reported PTI.

The incident occurred in the Nerul area of Navi Mumbai late on Wednesday night, he said, reported PTI.

As per the complaint lodged by a bar employee, the accused allegedly entered the bar posing as ACB officials around 9 pm. They carried fake ID cards and drove out customers from the establishment, the official said, reported PTI.

They allegedly assaulted and locked up women employees in the kitchen, and they threatened action against the hotel management, he said, adding that the bar incurred a loss of Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000, as customers were forced to leave without paying bills, reported PTI.

The accused have been identified as Sanjay Nirale and Jyoti Panchal, both journalists, Sagar Nalawade, Harshala John, Divya Nair and Vaishali Patil, the official said, reported PTI.

In another case, a man allegedly raped his cousin brother's five-year-old daughter after luring her with sweets in Navi Mumbai, police said on Tuesday, reported PTI.

The child lived with her parents at a village in Panvel area, while the accused resided in Vashi area of Navi Mumbai, they said, reported PTI.

On Sunday, the accused took the child away under the pretext of giving her sweets. He took the girl to an isolated spot in the village where he allegedly raped her, an official from Taloja police station said quoting a complaint by the victim's mother, reported PTI.

The accused was arrested on Monday. He was produced before a local court which remanded him in police custody till November 18, senior police inspector Avinash Kaldate said, reported PTI.

The man has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 363 (kidnapping) and 376(2)(f) (rape on a female under 12 years of age) as well as provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the police said, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)