The Anti-Extortion Cell of the Mumbai Police has arrested two individuals for allegedly attempting to extort Rs 4 lakh using a forged letter bearing the signature of PM Narendra Modi. The arrests reveal a sophisticated fraud involving impersonation and digital manipulation.
Police identified the accused as Tausif Hussain Ismail Patel and Siddhinath Dinanath Pandey and produced them before the Esplanade Court, which sent them to police custody. Both work with an advertising firm and live in Goregaon (West).
Police said the complainant, an NGO operator, met them at a social event in 2022. The duo posed as journalists and stayed in touch through messaging platforms.
Investigators said Patel later offered to arrange a birthday greeting letter from the Prime Minister’s Office in exchange for payment.
Despite initial scepticism, the accused allegedly continued to press for Rs 4 lakh, claiming it as public relations charges.
Subsequently, an associate allegedly sent a digital copy of a letter bearing the Prime Minister’s signature, praising the complainant’s work.
The complainant briefly shared it online before removing it after doubts were raised about its authenticity.
Police said the accused later intensified pressure and even created a fake email identity in the complainant’s name to lend credibility to the forged communication.
During a meeting in Worli, they reiterated their demand and claimed links with the Prime Minister’s Office.
After the complaint, police set a trap and caught them at a hotel while accepting the money.
Officers recovered a framed fake letter, toy currency mixed with real notes, and mobile phones used in the crime.
Police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act for cheating, forgery, extortion and cyber fraud.
Officials suspect a larger network and are probing similar scams involving forged documents.
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