MSF Jawan and Police Constables Arrested in Shocking Forex Robbery Case
In a disturbing incident that highlights police misconduct, a Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) jawan and two Mumbai Police constables were arrested on Friday for allegedly abducting and robbing a forex delivery boy in a meticulously planned daylight crime. The accused, identified as MSF jawan Sagar Wagh and constables Sandeep Shinde and Gajendra Rajput, along with two other accomplices who remain at large, are accused of orchestrating a brazen robbery that has sent shockwaves through the city's law enforcement community.
The Daylight Abduction in Juhu
The incident unfolded on March 25 when Sumit Ambavekar, a 30-year-old employee of a forex company based in Bandra-Kurla Complex, went to Juhu to deliver foreign currency to a client at JVPD Scheme. According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Ambavekar, he was speaking with a security guard at the delivery address at approximately 3:10 PM when two men suddenly approached him from behind.
"One of them grabbed me from behind, and the other snatched my phone," Ambavekar stated in his complaint. "I asked them, 'What happened?' One of them slapped me twice and said: 'Sit in the car, I will tell you what to say'. After that, both of them grabbed me and made me sit in a car."
The Robbery and Interrogation
Inside the vehicle, Ambavekar found three other men already waiting. The group immediately frisked him and discovered $10,000 in one of his trouser pockets, which they promptly confiscated. They also took his bag containing his personal monthly salary of Rs 15,000. The assailants then threatened Ambavekar and switched off his mobile phone to prevent any communication with the outside world.
During the subsequent car journey, the accused interrogated Ambavekar about his family background, his employer, and the staff at the forex company. They instructed the driver to proceed toward the Borivli Crime Branch Unit, making strategic stops along the Western Express Highway. At one point near Kandivli, constables Shinde and Rajput deliberately flashed their official Mumbai Police identity cards to the victim, falsely claiming that all five men in the car were police officers.
"Shinde asked Ambavekar, 'How many cases do you have against him? Do you want to increase the cases? Will your wife bail you out?'" revealed a Juhu police officer familiar with the investigation.
The Dramatic Confrontation and Arrests
The situation escalated when the group stopped near the Hanuman Mandir on the highway after taking a U-turn from under the Dahisar Metro station. Shinde demanded that Ambavekar bring currency documents and his supervisor to the Dahisar police unit the following day. When Ambavekar insisted on either returning the stolen currency or being taken to a legitimate police station, the accused attempted to leave in an autorickshaw.
A heated argument erupted between Shinde and Ambavekar, during which the victim managed to take photographs of the assailants on his mobile phone. This prompted Shinde to physically assault Ambavekar, attracting the attention of bystanders who intervened and restrained Shinde. Ambavekar immediately contacted the Dahisar police, leading to Shinde's apprehension at the scene. However, the other four accused managed to flee before authorities could capture them.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
Following Shinde's arrest, a thorough investigation led to the capture of constable Gajendra Rajput two days later from his residence in Thane. During interrogation, both Shinde and Rajput disclosed the whereabouts of MSF jawan Sagar Wagh, who was subsequently apprehended by law enforcement officials.
In response to the grave misconduct, the Mumbai Police has suspended both Shinde and Rajput from duty and initiated a comprehensive departmental inquiry against them. "Shinde and Rajput flashed their Mumbai Police ID cards and made the victim tell his wife and mother on a video call that he would not come home at night as he is being taken to the police station," disclosed a Juhu police officer, highlighting the calculated deception employed by the accused.
The Juhu police are actively searching for the remaining two accomplices involved in this audacious crime. This case has raised serious concerns about police integrity and the safety of citizens, particularly those working in vulnerable professions like currency delivery services.
