In a significant crackdown, the Mumbai Police have successfully busted a gang that was systematically extorting money from workshop owners in the densely populated Dharavi area. The criminals operated by falsely accusing the businessmen of employing child labour and threatening them with legal action.
The Modus Operandi: A Well-Planned Scam
The gang's scheme began to unravel on October 30. Around 1:30 PM, a complainant was at his factory where his and his brother's children were present and playing. Seizing the opportunity, two women, identified as Deepali Dalvi and Megha Sonawane, entered the premises pretending to be Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) employees.
They promptly took photographs of the children and used this as leverage to threaten the factory owner with severe action for allegedly using child labour. Frightened by the prospect of a case, the owner paid them a ransom of Rs 25,000. The accused then left the scene, having successfully executed their plan.
The Sting That Led to the Bust
After the incident, the complainant discovered that the same individuals had targeted several other workshops in Dharavi using identical tactics. When the accused returned to his factory on the following Monday to demand more money, the owner and other locals were prepared.
This time, Deepali Dalvi was accompanied by a man named Hanumanta Kunchikarve (36), who falsely claimed to be a police officer. When the workshop owner refused to pay, the duo threatened to file a formal child labour case against him. However, instead of giving in, the locals immediately alerted the police.
While Deepali managed to flee from the spot, the locals overpowered Kunchikarve and detained him until the police arrived. He was subsequently handed over to the authorities.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
Based on the interrogation of the arrested accused, Hanumanta Kunchikarve, the police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against him and three other individuals involved in the extortion racket. The other accused, including Deepali Dalvi and Megha Sonawane, are currently absconding.
An investigating officer confirmed that a manhunt is underway to apprehend the remaining three accused. The police are piecing together the gang's activities and believe they may have victimised multiple small business owners in the industrial pockets of Dharavi.
This case highlights a disturbing trend where anti-social elements exploit serious issues like child labour laws to intimidate and extort hard-working business owners. The Mumbai Police's prompt action has provided some relief to the local workshop community, which often operates on thin margins and is vulnerable to such predatory schemes.
