Mumbai: Woman Records Encounter With Fake Cop Attempting To Extort Money In Powai
Mumbai, 17th October 2024: A woman in Mumbai recently recounted a troubling experience where a man posing as a police officer entered her autorickshaw and attempted to extort money from her for using a vape. Her sibling shared the details of this incident on X (formerly Twitter), which occurred in the Powai area. The woman reported that the man, dressed in plain clothes, threatened to arrest her unless she paid him ₹ 50,000. When she asked for identification, he refused to provide any, raising her suspicions. She then began recording the interaction.
In a video clip, the woman stated, “I’m currently on MIDC Road, and this man followed me into my autorickshaw. He’s trying to force me to go to Powai Chowki.” The footage showed her in the back seat with the man next to her. As she pointed her camera at him, he tried to cover his face and grab her phone. “You cannot take me anywhere without a female police officer present,” she asserted.
In a subsequent post, her sibling provided more context, explaining, “My sister was returning from college, holding her vape when this man jumped into her autorickshaw. They were in front of MIDC, and she was alone.”
The sibling continued, “He claimed to be a police officer and demanded ₹ 50,000 for the ‘offence’ of having a vape. He sat beside her, started using her vape, and attempted to intimidate her with threats, saying she would be taken to the Powai police station if she didn’t have the cash.”
Feeling frightened, the woman called her sibling in distress. They reassured her, stating it was likely a scare tactic to extort money, and advised her to start recording the incident. Upon doing so, the man’s demeanour shifted dramatically.
The sibling noted that when the sister began filming, the man became nervous and quickly exited the autorickshaw. Before leaving, he mentioned something threatening, saying, “I will deal with you later,” which alarmed the family considering the current climate of safety. Throughout the encounter, the man failed to identify himself.
The incident has since gone viral on social media, eliciting a range of responses. While many users commended the woman’s quick thinking, others urged the Mumbai police to take action against the impersonator. One user commented, “Mumbai police, please take action against this imposter; it’s crucial for the image of our police and the safety of women in Mumbai.” Another added, “There are no specific legal restrictions on e-cigarette use, as the laws primarily target sales and distribution.” A third user praised the woman for her cleverness, saying, “She wisely recognized something was off and avoided escalating the situation.”
