Fake cop robs artisan of ornaments

Mumbai: In what is being suspected to be a well-planned robbery, two persons one of them impersonating as a police personnel robbed a 50-year-old artisan of gold and diamond studded ornaments worth more than Rs 7.35 lakh in Bhayandar.

Based on a complaint filed by the gold artisan identified as Tapas Mandal (50), the Navghar police have registered a FIR under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code against the unidentified men on Tuesday.

According to the police, the incident was reported from the Fatak Road area of Bhayandar (east) when the artisan was on his way to deliver the made-to-order merchandise including diamond studded rings, bracelets and earrings to an Andheri-based jeweler.

In his statement to the police, Mandal said that to reach the railway station, he boarded a share auto-rickshaw which was already occupied by a man who the driver claimed was a senior police officer. After traveling a few meters, the impersonator asked Mandal to show his bag to check if he was carrying guthka or ganja. Mandal reluctantly complied, following which the impersonator not only rummaged through his belongings, but also frisked him.

However, the encounter finally ended with Man-dal being robbed of all the ornaments.