Rajkot: Two men accused of impersonating police officers and attempting to extort Rs 50,000 from a group of young men were arrested on Monday. The accused, identified as Aryan Faldu and Parmaraj Manjariya, were taken into custody following a complaint filed on Sunday by Kirit Pithadiya, a 31-year-old laborer residing in the Mavdi Plot area. The University police have registered a case against the duo under BNS Sections 204, 205, 308, 62, 351 (2), and other relevant provisions.
Incident Details
According to police reports, the incident occurred on the night of June 12 near a cricket ground in the Raiyadhar Shantinagar area. Pithadiya was accompanied by his friends Naresh Panchal, Ravi Chavda, and Bhargav Jogar when the two suspects arrived on an electric scooter. The accused allegedly introduced themselves as police officers from the Malviya Nagar police station. One of them was reportedly wearing a jacket bearing the police force’s logo.
The duo questioned the youths about their presence in the area and threatened them with police action and physical assault. They allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 in exchange for not taking them to the police station. The group grew suspicious of their behavior and asked for official identification. The accused identified themselves as Aryan Faldu and Parmaraj Manjariya but failed to provide any proof of being police officers. They subsequently fled the scene.
Arrest and Investigation
Following the complaint, the University police launched a search operation using technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs, which led to their arrest. Preliminary findings suggest that the two men impersonated police officers in an attempt to extort money for personal expenses. Police are now investigating whether the accused had targeted other individuals in similar incidents.
Officials stated that further questioning of the accused is underway, and additional details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
