8 Fake Income Tax Officers held for robbing Mumbai Jewellery Businessman of Rs.18 Lakh in bold Raid

Inspired by the 2013 film ‘Special 26,’ eight persons acting as income tax authorities recently raided the home of an imitation jewellery businessman in Sion and seized Rs.18 lakh.

The offenders were apprehended within a few days, thanks to CCTV evidence. According to the police, Rajkumar Gujjar, one of the detained individuals, was a friend of the businessman’s grandson and was told by one of the gang members, Abhay Kasle, that Sushant Lohar, the main accused, was in the Income Tax department and that giving a tip for a raid would earn him a 10% commission.

Gujjar allegedly told Kasle that the family of businessman Ram Kuber Patwa had received Rs. 10 crore in cash as part of a property deal.

In the case of the fake raid on the Patwas, the raiding team even produced a bogus panchnama and advised the family to expect an IT notice.

In addition to Lohar, his recruiting agent Kasle, and the guy hired for the raid, Gujjar, the police detained Santosh Patle, Rajaram Mangle, Amardeep Sonawane, Sharad Ekavade, and Bhaurao Ingle (52). The police stated they have yet to retrieve the Rs.18 lakh that the group had stolen.

A car and a fake identity card used in the crime were seized by police. They discovered two images of Ekavade and Sonawane dressed in police clothes, which the accused said were for side parts as cops in a crime series. According to the police, Gujjar told Kasle that the Patwas sold a substantial property in their hometown of Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and earned Rs. 10 crore in cash.

Shrilata Patwa, the businessman‘s daughter, filed the complaint, and Gujjar was a friend of her son.

The Patwas called their chartered accountant, Abdul Faiz, who informed them that they had been tricked because the IT department never performed such searches. The Patwas then filed a case against unknown individuals for defrauding, forgery, and criminal breach of trust.