Police inspector Om Wangate is accused of extorting money from angadias and was arrested on March 10 by the Crime Intelligence Unit
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Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested police inspector Om Wangate in connection with an extortion case on March 10. Wangate, an inspector at Lokmanya Tilak Marg Police Station, is accused of extorting money from angadias.
The police officer had applied for Anticipatory Bail Application (ABA) in the sessions court, which was rejected. Wangete then filed an ABA in the Bombay High Court but withdrew the application on March 10. Earlier, the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) had arrested PI Nitin Kadam and PSI Samadhan Jamdade on February 19.
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Wangate is alleged to have extorted money from angadias in the Mumbadevi area with the help of two other police officers and an FIR has been registered in this case. He has been absconding since FIR was filed. The court had given him relief till March 8, during which Wangate also gave his statement before the CIU. A police source told mid-day, "Wangate has not told the full truth in his statement to the CIU, for this he has to be interrogated."
The CIU has so far recorded the statements of about 10 angadia traders. Wangate is alleged to have extorted money from angadia traders on December 2, 3, 4 and 6. In their written complaint to the police, the Angadiya Association accused police officials of extorting money from them. According to angadias, the police officials used to make the cut of Rs 50,000 if the bag was carrying Rs 5 lakh and Rs 1-2 lakh if the bag had Rs 10 lakh.
Additional Commissioner of Police Dilip Sawat, South Region, is investigating the case. During the preliminary inquiry, evidence was found against three police officers and a case was registered. CCTV footage against the accused was also found during the investigation.
According to a Mumbai Crime Branch official, Wangate came to the CIU's office on Thursday evening (March 10) after which he was arrested. "Om Wangate has been arrested by the CIU and will be produced in court today (March 11)," a crime branch official told mid-day.
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