Mumbai: Masks go, but fake BMC racket still continues

A mask marshal fines a citizen on March 29. File pic

Fraudsters, posing as civic officials, continued to threaten citizens over masks even on the last day before the state government's relaxations are set to come into force. One such case took place at Malad East on Friday where Prakash Maske was allegedly cheated of Rs 15,000 by two people, claiming to be BMC officials.

Accordi NG to police sources, Maske, 35, was on his way to pay his electricity bill when he was intercepted by two men on a motorcycle. The duo pointed out that his mask was not covering his nose properly and asked him to pay a fine, or else face police action.

A mask marshal fines citizens for not wearing their masks inside public transport, on January 12. File pic

Maske in his statement told police, "I was headed to the power supplier's office in Dindoshi as the connection was cut due to non-payment of bills amounting to Rs 15,000. The two accused blocked my way and asked for Rs 20,000 as fine for not wearing the mask properly. Even when I told them that my mask had slipped from my nose as the elastic had loosened over time, they threatened to file a police case against me."

A scared Maske then handed them Rs 15,000 he was carrying to pay the bill, following which the duo left the spot. When Maske reached home he narrated the ordeal to
his wife, following which the duo approached the Kurar police.

"We have registered a case under sections 170 (impersonating as public official) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC against two unknown accused and have started the investigation," said an officer from Kurar police station.

Rs 20K
Amount demanded by the accused as fine