Fake Media Personnel Arrested for Extorting Hoteliers

Two individuals, posing as media and civic officials, were arrested for allegedly extorting money from hoteliers in Thane. The police tracked and nabbed the suspects, Jayesh Sawant and Himanshu Singh, in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Both were booked under various provisions and remanded in police custody.

Two individuals posing as media and civic officials have been arrested for allegedly extorting money from hoteliers in Thane, according to a police official on Friday.

The suspects, who operated in the Kashimira area, posed as correspondents from renowned television channels and staff of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation, Zone I Deputy Commissioner of Police Prakash Gaikwad stated.

Based on a tip-off, a police team tracked the accused, Jayesh Sawant (41) and Himanshu Singh (24), first to Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and then to Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, where they were arrested on July 24. Sawant has six previous cases against him in various police stations in Thane and Mumbai, the DCP added.

The suspects were booked under the Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita provisions for extortion and other offences. A local court has remanded them in police custody until July 29.

(With inputs from agencies.)