Ahmedabad Court Denies Bail To ‘Fake Policeman’ Accused Of Abducting Youth, Extorting ₹1.60 Lakh

An Additional Sessions Court in Ahmedabad has rejected the bail application of Shakirhusain Shaikh, accused of posing as a police officer, abducting a youth in Isanpur and allegedly extorting ₹1.60 lakh and his motorcycle.

Additional Sessions Judge J.I. Patel rejected Shaikh’s plea, observing that he allegedly abducted the complainant by impersonating a police officer and extorted money from him. The complainant had also identified Shaikh during a test identification parade.

Youth Allegedly Abducted After Being Stopped In Isanpur

According to the case, the complainant was travelling on his motorcycle through the Samratnagar area of Isanpur late at night when a group of men in plain clothes stopped him.

The accused allegedly introduced themselves as police officers and took the youth on his motorcycle to an isolated location in Maninagar.

There, they allegedly threatened him by claiming that he was involved in illegal activities and could be imprisoned and exposed in the media.

The accused allegedly then withdrew ₹1.60 lakh from the complainant’s bank account and took his motorcycle.

Accused Claimed CCTV Did Not Show Him

Shaikh, who is in judicial custody, sought bail before the Sessions Court, claiming he was innocent.

The defence argued that the original complaint named three accused, while police arrested four people and declared another accused an absconder. It was also submitted that Shaikh’s presence was not visible in CCTV footage and that he should therefore be granted bail.

Prosecution Opposes Bail

Chief Public Prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt opposed the bail application, arguing that the accused was involved in a serious offence.

The prosecution alleged that Shaikh had played a significant role in conducting a recce of the complainant before the abduction and had falsely impersonated a police officer.

The prosecutor also submitted that there was a possibility of the accused committing a similar offence if released on bail.

Court Finds No Changed Circumstances

While rejecting the plea, the court observed that the allegations involved forcible abduction by posing as a police officer, followed by extortion of ₹1.60 lakh and the motorcycle.

The court also took note of the complainant’s identification of the accused during the identification parade.

It observed that no changed circumstances had emerged after the filing of the chargesheet and said that, without commenting on the merits of the case at the bail stage, it would not be just or reasonable to exercise discretionary power in favour of the accused.

The bail application was accordingly rejected.