Fake Cop Threatens to Leak Photos, Extorts ₹10,000 From Two Men at Sabarmati Riverfront

A man posing as a policeman allegedly extorted ₹10,000 from two men at Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront around 4.15 am on May 24 by threatening to circulate their photographs on social media and at their homes, police said. The complaint was lodged on October 24 by Kavi Vachani, a 23-year-old IT recruitment professional, with the Riverfront West police.

According to the complaint, a man wearing a light grey shirt and black jeans allegedly approached them and claimed to be a policeman. He told them that he had photographed them on his mobile phone and threatened to lodge a complaint against them.

The accused allegedly seized their phones, threatened to circulate their photographs on social media and at their homes, and threatened to kill them despite their pleas.

Accused Demanded ₹10,000 to Suppress Photographs

The incident took place around 4.15 am on May 24, when Vachani and his friend Dhruv Kamani visited the Riverfront for a walk where man posing as policeman allegedly demanded ₹10,000 to prevent the photographs from being circulated, the complaint stated.

When Vachani said he did not have the full amount, the accused allegedly asked him to arrange the balance through a friend. Vachani told police that he had ₹4,000 in his bank account and contacted a friend, Keval, to transfer the remaining ₹6,000 to his Google Pay account.

At around 4.45 am, Vachani allegedly scanned a QR code displayed on the accused’s mobile phone and transferred ₹10,000. The payment details showed the recipient’s name as “Saiyad Noor Meer”, along with a PhonePe-linked payment identifier, according to the complaint.

Vachani, who lives in a paying guest accommodation in Ahmedabad and works as a bench sales recruiter at an IT company near Shyamal Crossroads, told police that he and his friend arrived on a motorcycle, parked it and later sat on the walkway near the aerodrome.

Before leaving, the accused allegedly threatened to kill Vachani if he disclosed the incident. Fearing for his safety and needing to report for work, Vachani returned to his accommodation.

Complainant Identifies Suspect, Approaches Police

Vachani later made inquiries and identified the suspect as Mohammad Hussain alias Haddi Kamruddin Sheikh, a resident of Gomtipur. He also told police that he had learnt the accused had allegedly targeted other people in a similar manner.

On October 24, Vachani approached the Riverfront West police and lodged a complaint.

Police have registered a case and further investigation is under way.