24 June,2015 01:10 PM IST | | Saurabh Vaktania
Two former policemen, who used to be with the Thane police, asked victim to alight at Andheri for 'investigation'; along with 6 other accomplices, took him to SGNP, thrashed him, and took his money
kidnapping
A gang of criminals, led by two former policemen, kidnapped a businessman from a local train and looted R5 lakh in cash he had been carrying. After the complainant registered a case, six people from the gang, including the two rogue cops, have been arrested by the Bandra railway Crime Branch, and two others are absconding.
According to police sources, the incident occurred on May 15, when Kiran Bait (23), a resident of Naigaon, was on his way to Zaveri Bazaar in a local train. Bait was carrying Rs 5.66 lakh in cash at the time. One of the wanted accused, identified only as Amit, had been keeping tabs on Bait and informing the leaders of the gang, the two ex-cops Gajanan Taddikar (42) and Shiva Chavan (42).
Taddikar had served with the Thane police for 15 years. For the last three years, he never reported to work, leading to his suspension, and, eventually, dismissal. Chavan, too, had been with the Thane police for over 10 years, before being dismissed after his arrest by the Trombay police in another case.
How it unfolded
Six accused - including the two cops, the informer, and three others - boarded the same local train as their target. At Andheri, the two cops flashed their police badges at Bait, and told him he would have to be taken into custody for âinvestigation', since he was carrying a firearm.
The accused then alighted with the businessman at Andheri station, took him right in front of the GRP and RPF police chowkies in Andheri (East), and bundled him into an Innova, in which their two partners-in-crime were waiting. The gang took the complainant to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Borivli, where they assaulted him and took all his cash.
They later dropped him off on the highway in Mankhurd and sped away. Bait then registered a complaint with the Andheri Government Railway Police (GRP), but given the nature of the case, it was transferred to the Bandra railway Crime Branch.
CCTV footage
Police got hold of the CCTV footage of Andheri railway station and identified the accused last week. The two ex-cops were arrested and four more accused were apprehended thereafter. The remaining two accused, including Amit, are absconding.
A police officer said, "Both the cops head the gang and have committed several such offences. As policemen, they knew their way around and used their ID cards to commit the crimes.
The incident is very serious, as in broad daylight and in a running train, a person was kidnapped and taken away in front of two police stations. Further investigation is on. We have registered a case for dacoity and kidnapping."
