Written by Manish Kumar PathakMumbai | Updated: December 20, 2025 10:34 PM IST 3 min readThe victim said he also received a call from an unknown number; the caller claimed he was “joint commissioner of police, Mumbai.” (File Photo enhanced using Google Gemini)Four men impersonating as senior Mumbai police officers allegedly extorted Rs 99.16 lakh from a businessman in Malad over the last year, threatening to slap false murder charges against him, encounter death and harm to his family members, police said.“Dindoshi police arrested one suspect on Saturday. As of now, police’s involvement has not been found in the matter, further probe is on, a senior police officer said.Unable to meet further demands of the accused, the 39-year-old businessman left his home on December 15 without informing anyone. His wife registered a missing person complaint at the Dindoshi police station. Police traced the businessman on Friday (December 19) and brought him back. During questioning, he told the police about the alleged extortion.The businessman lives in Malad (east) with his wife, eight-year-old son and father. He runs a gas agency in Malad. He alleged that “one Pravin Khedekar, who used to collect donations for Ganesh festival, called him from an unknown number saying he was in financial difficulty and needed money”. The victim transferred Rs 2,100 through Google Pay. Between September and October 2024, the victim said he paid Rs 10,600 to Khedekar.The victim said he also received a call from an unknown number; the caller claimed he was “joint commissioner of police, Mumbai” and said Khedekar had killed a person under a “contract given by the businessman and there was proof he had transferred money to Khedekar for the murder”. The caller threatened that if he did not want to be arrested he needed to pay him money. The victim alleged a senior citizen collected the first Rs 50,000 from him at a BMC garden in Dhanjewadi area, Malad east. Later “one Avinash Shinde” called the victim threatening that if he wanted to avoid arrest, he needed to pay Rs 7 lakh. The victim alleged in the FIR he received multiple calls from unknown numbers, with the caller claiming to be “joint commissioner and Mumbai police commissioner”.Fearing arrest, he allegedly paid Rs 80 lakh cash at public places such as near Malad station and Andheri flyover and also transferred funds online and through UPI totalling totaling Rs 99.16 lakh. The victim further alleged he had taken loans from several banks and also against his gas agency to pay the extortion money through his bank accounts between September 2024 and December 2025.Manish Kumar Pathak is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates substantial Expertise and Authority across the complex field of crime reporting, with a strong focus on law enforcement actions, fraud, and cyber security challenges facing the metropolitan region. Expertise & Authority Affiliation: Reports for the nationally recognized daily, The Indian Express, providing his content with high Trustworthiness. Geographical Focus: Provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of breaking news and investigative matters across Mumbai and the surrounding regions (e.g., Thane, Vasai). Core Authority: His reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial beats, including: Cyber & Financial Crime: Extensive coverage of sophisticated scams, including cases involving high-value cyber fraud, stock market manipulation scams, and fraudsters using government figures to gain trust. Law Enforcement & Investigation: Reports directly on major police actions, including arrests made by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in fraud cases (e.g., MHADA flat scams) and detailed coverage of murder and kidnapping investigations. Major Incidents & Public Safety: Covers significant incidents like building collapses, road accidents, and public safety issues such as theft at large public events. Defence & Maritime: Also covers key updates regarding the Indian Navy, including the commissioning of new vessels and strategic defense announcements. Manish Kumar Pathak's consistent focus on crime, fraud, and the workings of the Mumbai police system establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for critical news in Western India. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:extortion case