The PMO has ordered a probe into the case of a Bandra-based man who was allegedly asked for a bribe by officials of the property cell of Mumbai police two months ago. The man was arrested by property cell on charges of changing IMEI numbers of stolen mobile phones in September. After getting bail, this man approached the police commissioner and CM, and also wrote a letter to the PMO. The PMO has now ordered a probe with the home secretary to conduct the inquiry. The police too is investigating the matter and a report may soon come up.
Bandra-based Mohsin Moinuddin Sheikh (30), had complained to top authorities of the state (copy with The Asian Age) against officials of the property cell for allegedly demanding and taking '3.5 lakh in bribe for not booking or arresting him in the matter. Mr Sheikh said, “I was in Bangkok at the airport on September 30 on business when I received a call from my employee who said a few officials of the property cell had raided my mobile store in Bandra. I immediately returned to Mumbai and reached my shop in the morning of October 1 where I found officials present.
“When I told them I was the owner of the shop, they told me that I was using illegal equipment and software for changing IMEI numbers of stolen mobile phones. Suddenly, one of the officers promised not to arrest me if I could manage and pay '5 lakh to him. I did not have that much cash but in a few hours, I arranged for '1.5 lakh and later paid him '2 lakh through a friend of mine.”
Mr Sheikh said that later, officials of the property cell anyway arrested him and while producing him in court, took his police custody. “Later, I was released on bail and my business has now come to a standstill. I have been having problems with my wife who now thinks I am a criminal and went abroad to have fun with women there,” he said. Mr Sheikh gave his statement to the property cell on October 27 after which, on November 17, he lodged a writ petition in High Court against property cell officials API Nitin Patil and Datta Mascekar.
The officials had, after receiving specific information, raided Mr Sheikh’s mobile shop i.e. Mobilink, saying that IMEI numbers of stolen mobile phones were being changed at the shop. The police had seized six IMEI number-changing machines and 137 mobile phones from the shop, according to Mr Patil, who, according to Mr Sheikh, was the official who asked for a bribe.
