Mumbai Man Arrested For Posing As Fake MPCB Officer

Mumbai: A 29-year-old unemployed man from Badlapur has been arrested by the Vanrai police for allegedly impersonating an officer of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and extorting money from a factory owner.

The accused, identified as Swaraj Ghosalkar, used the name Sachin Mahadik while posing as an MPCB field officer. He allegedly threatened factory owners with arrest for violating pollution-control norms.

According to the police, the complainant, Shailesh Povale, owns a company named Lakshmi Metallurgical and Marine Engineers, located at Kothari Industrial Estate in Goregaon East. Povale told the police that on August 25, the accused visited his company and claimed to be an MPCB officer. The accused showed Povale a visiting card bearing the name and designation “Field Officer Sachin Mahadik” and the address of the MPCB office at Kalpataru Point, Sion.

The accused then allegedly threatened to file a false report against Povale’s company for causing pollution and demanded money from him. Povale summoned his accountant and instructed him to give ₹10,000 in cash to the accused.

Later, Povale contacted a BMC consultant to verify the accused's identity and found that no such officer was employed by the MPCB. The accused was arrested after Povale filed a complaint with the police.

The police said that the accused took inspiration from the movie Special 26 and had no previous record of committing a similar offence. The investigation is underway.

The incident highlights the need for factory owners to be cautious when dealing with officials and to verify their identities before making any payments.

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has not commented on the incident, but it is likely that the board will take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

The arrest of the accused is a relief for the factory owners in the area, who have been targeted by impostors in the past. The police have advised factory owners to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

In recent years, there have been several cases of impostors posing as government officials and extorting money from citizens. The incident highlights the need for citizens to be aware of their rights and to verify the identities of officials before making any payments.

The police are investigating the incident and are likely to file a chargesheet against the accused soon. The accused is currently in police custody and is likely to be produced in court soon.

The incident has raised concerns about the security of factory owners in the area and the need for the authorities to take steps to prevent such incidents in the future. The police have assured factory owners that they will take all necessary steps to prevent such incidents and to ensure their safety.

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has a responsibility to ensure that factory owners are not targeted by impostors and to take steps to prevent pollution in the state. The board should take steps to verify the identities of its officials and to ensure that they are not involved in any illegal activities.

The incident is a reminder that citizens need to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. The police and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board should work together to prevent such incidents and to ensure the safety of factory owners in the state.

The case is currently under investigation and the police are likely to file a chargesheet against the accused soon. The accused is currently in police custody and is likely to be produced in court soon.