The Bharti Vidyapeeth police arrested a 50-year-old man yesterday for posing as a Regional Transport Officer and duping a man of Rs 8 lakh. When the cops approached the accused, identified as Jaywant Pawar, a resident of Satara district, he tried to avoid arrest by claiming to be a relative of the chief minister.

The case came to light when the complainant, Shrirang Bhagwan Sarode (66) from Katraj-Kondhwa Road, lodged an FIR against Pawar. In his statement, Sarode said that Pawar had approached Sarode and offered his son a job in the RTO. Impressed by Pawar’s conduct and his car, which had a red beacon, Sarode agreed to the offer, as he was made to believe that Pawar was in charge of issuing rickshaw licences. In return, Sarode gave Pawar Rs 8 lakh.

Cops added that when Sarode realised he had been duped, he confronted Pawar, who threatened him. Frustrated, Sarode lodged a complaint against Pawar with the Bharti Vidyapeeth police. When cops tried to arrest Pawar, he then pretended to be a relative of the chief minister. But, Police Inspector Machindra Chavan instructed his junior officer, Sub-Inspector Shaikh, to arrest Pawar and register a case against him.

Pawar has been charged with sections 420 (cheating) and 170 (impersonating a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.

Police have also seized the car that Pawar used to dupe people.