A dismissed police constable was arrested by Unit 12 of the crime branch on Friday for extorting money from people. The Crime Branch found a police ID card in his possession that he used to threaten people with. The police said the accused has looted many people in the past in Dahisar, Kandivli and Borivli and also taken gold jewellery and valuables from some.

The accused was identified as Uttam Keshav More, 50, a resident of Dombivli. He had been dismissed from the police department in 2005. According to the police, on May 28 More asked for gutkha at a Dahisar pan tapri. The shop owner gave him a packet. Then More showed his police ID card and threatened the shop owner with arrest. The police said he then dragged the pan shop owner to the side of the road, checked all his pockets and found R4,500 which he took. He then dragged him to an ATM and asked him to withdraw R10,000, which More also took before leaving.