Fake cops accuse Nigerians of blasts, flee with laptop, Rs20,000

Four persons, including a woman, were arrested by the Vakola police on Thursday for cheating three Nigerians by posing as police officers. The four visited the Kalina residence of the Nigerians saying that they need to check their laptops and mobile phones as they suspect their involvement in the recent bomb blasts.

The accused have been identified as Naresh Rohira, his wife Rekha, Kaushal Podwalkar and Rohit Rathod. Rohira, a resident of Malwani, works as an event manager.

Police said the Nigerians are small time businessmen and reside in Kalina.

According to a complaint lodged by the Nigerians, the accused visited their residence in the wee hours of Wednesday and told them that they are police officers and wanted to check their laptops and mobile phones. “The accused then took their laptop, mobile phone and Rs20,000 and fled. The Nigerians suspected foul play when they saw them leaving in a private car and immediately noted down the vehicle registration number,” said a police officer.

“After the victims lodged a complaint at the Vakola police station and gave the vehicle registration number, the police traced the car owner to Oshiwara. But the owner said he sold the car to a Malwani resident a week ago,” said senior police inspector RG Pardeshi.

“The car owner then gave us the mobile number of the person who bought the car and we arrested Rohira and his wife from Malwani. The other two were then arrested from Santa Cruz area,” said Pardeshi. The accused have been produced in a court and remanded in police custody till July 23.