Arrest Made as Fake Reporter Extorts Rs 1 Lakh from Café Owner

Ambazari police arrested an imposter posing as a journalist who had coerced a cafe owner into paying him Rs 1 lakh. The fake journalist, identified as Mushtaq alias Munna Patel from Mahesh Nagar, was involved in similar extortion activities, including targeting several doctors in the vicinity.

Under the guise of being a journalist, Munna visited Gokulpeth's Sosha Cafe, where he threatened the owner, demanding Rs 1 lakh in exchange for not creating and sharing a damaging video of the cafe. Fearing the consequences, the cafe's manager handed over Rs 20,000 to Munna.

Subsequently, Munna contacted the Shosha Cafe owners, demanding Rs 1 lakh and threatening to publish negative stories about the establishment if the money was not paid. In response to a complaint filed by the cafe manager, Devendra Patle (29), the Ambazari police registered a case of extortion against Munna under sections 384, 385, and 506. He was subsequently arrested.

During the arrest, the police confiscated a black wallet containing Rs 11,220, a mobile phone, and an identity card falsely claiming affiliation with India Today and Police News.

Following the registration of the case against Munna, it was discovered that he had also targeted several doctors in the area, extorting money from them. Ambazari police are currently investigating the extent of Munna's activities and identifying other potential victims.

The arrest and investigation were conducted under the guidance of senior PI Vinayak Golhe of the Ambazari police station, with the collaborative efforts of the team, including Santosh Boyne, Rajesh Sonawane, Dinesh Juganahke, Ankush Ghati, Ujjwal Patekar, and others.

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