Mumbai Police:Police informer extorts money from bar owner in ACP’s name

A 35-year-old man, who was working as an informer for Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vasant Dhoble for the last 6 months, was arrested on Wednesday night for allegedly demanding Rs2 lakh from an Andheri-based bar owner. The accused told the bar staff that he was demanding money on behalf of Dhoble, who wanted money for his son’s higher education.

The accused has been identified as Dinesh Gunwant Tule, a resident of Goregaon (West). Earlier, he was working as an estate agent.According to the police, around 7 months ago Tule came in contact with Dhoble claiming that he has authentic information about wrongdoers. “After that Tule started spreading rumours in the bar that he works for Dhoble as his informer and threatened bar owners for the money,’’ said a police officer.

“A month ago, Tule went into Ratna and LP bar and restaurant and extorted money saying that Dhoble’s son is going to study abroad so he needs money. He took Rs 3.25 lakh from both the bar owners,” said senior inspector Pradeep Gosavi of the Andheri police station. “In the last week, Tule went to Mansi Bar and Restaurant in Andheri (East) and demanded Rs2 lakh from him.

He told the same story to bar owner Arun Shetty,” said Gosavi. “Tule also threatened that if he would not give him the money, he will face action,” said Gosavi.

The way Tule demanded money, Shetty got suspicious and called Dhoble to verify the fact. “On Wednesday around 11pm when Tule called him regarding the cash, Shetty told him to come his bar and collect the money and also informed to Dhoble. As soon as Tule reached the bar, Dhoble caught him and handed over to the Andheri police to take legal action against him,” said the police.

We have arrested Tule for extortion. There were also cases registered against him for forgery and cheating in Nagpur and Aurangabad,” said Gosavi.