06 January,2026 09:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
(From left) The three arrested accused — Javed Jabbar Khan, Kalpesh Subhash Kamble, and Anil Ankush Chavan. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Kandivli police have arrested three impostors who allegedly posed as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials to extort money from doctors running clinics in the western suburbs. One more accused involved in the racket is currently on the run, and a search is underway, the police said.
The arrested accused have been identified as Kalpesh Subhash Kamble, Javed Jabbar Khan, and Anil Ankush Chavan. According to police, the gang specifically targeted BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery) and BHMS (Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery) doctors, threatening them with action over alleged non-compliance with BMC norms.
Police investigations revealed that the accused would visit clinics posing as BMC inspectors and demand documents such as biomedical waste certificates, degree certificates, and other permissions. After a sham inspection, they would threaten the doctors with closure or legal action unless money was paid. The fraud came to light after members of the Kandivli AYUSH Doctors Association received repeated alerts about doctors being extorted in the area.
According to police sources, on November 22, 2025, the accused allegedly visited Sainath Clinic in Kandivli West and demanded Rs 1.5 lakh after inspection. Fearing action, the doctor reportedly paid Rs 8000 in cash and Rs 7000 via Google Pay to Kamble. In another incident on November 28, the gang targeted Sai Krupa Clinic, demanding Rs 80,000. The doctor eventually paid Rs 10,000 online to an account linked to the accused.
The turning point came on December 31, 2025, when the accused walked into Kamala Clinic, run by Dr Madan Bulatilal Gupta, 60, a BHMS doctor and member of the Kandivli AYUSH Doctors Association. Suspicious of their claims, Dr Gupta alerted his colleague Sunil Wagh, who secretly recorded a video of the suspects. When confronted, one of the accused tried to flee after pushing Wagh, but was overpowered. A call to the police helpline led to immediate action.
The detained accused confessed to impersonating BMC officials. Doctors who had earlier paid money were called to the police station and positively identified Kamble as one of the extortionists. Police stated that between November 22 and December 31, 2025, the accused, acting in collusion, extorted a total of R25,000 from doctors by impersonating civic officials.
Under the guidance of DCP (Zone XI) Sandeep Jadhav, senior inspector Karan Sonkawade, along with PSI Nitin Satam and his detection team, began the investigation and caught the accused. Kamble was arrested on December 31, 2025; Javed Khan was arrested on January 2, 2026; and Chavan was arrested on January 4, 2026. A case has been registered against the accused persons for cheating, impersonation, criminal conspiracy, and extortion.
"Our association has 116 doctors, and we hold a function every year to address their concerns. Similar inspections have taken place in the past, but no one has demanded money. Earlier, they would only ask for documents," said the association representative. "We strongly advise against monetary transactions. Doctors should approach the department concerned, verify the matter, and proceed only after obtaining complete and official information," added the representative.
"We also contacted the Medical Officer of Health [MOH] regarding the issue, and officials clarified that no BMC official is authorised to demand money. If any penalty is imposed, it is processed officially by the department. In most cases, penalties are not levied on the spot, and even when they are, they never accept cash payments," the representative said.
