A Mumbai police constable Vithal Dahibavkar, 52, attached to the Local Arms-3 force has been accused of extorting Rs 3 lakh from a drug consumer in Goregaon East on October 21. He was arrested by the Dindoshi police on Tuesday.

According to sources, the drug consumer is a 21-year-old resident of Maitri Park, Goregaon East. On October 21, he purchased cocaine worth Rs 7,000 meant to be consumed at a birthday party that night from a Nigerian drug peddler near Maitri Park. After the peddler left, the purchaser was approached by Dahibavkar who claimed to be a crime branch officer and threatened to take him to Dindoshi police station and arrest him. The complainant suggested they settle the matter and Dahibavkar demanded a R25-lakh bribe. The duo eventually settled on a Rs 3 lakh bribe. The drug purchaser arranged for the money and was let go. But a couple of days later he realised that he has been cheated and approached the police.