On May 1, Shilwant called the complainant again and said if he wanted the matter to be closed, he must pay Rs 10 lakh.
Accused Tushar Shilwant with Dombivli police officers
A Bhiwandi resident, Tushar Shilwant, has been held for blackmailing and extorting from his beautician wife’s friend by posing as a police officer. Shilwant and his wife are estranged and he had been facing losses in his business amid the lockdown. After getting arrested, he admitted to having taken advantage of the duo’s friendship for money.
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According to police, Shilwant’s wife works at a parlour and he suspected her to be having an affair with a customer, who is the complainant. The complainant, a Dombivli resident, had visited the massage parlour where Shilwant’s wife works and the two
became friends.
Pretended to be a cop
On April 7, the complainant got a call from Shilwant who identified himself as a police officer from a crime branch unit in Vashi and threatened him with action for having an affair with a woman working in a massage parlour. To avoid action, the ‘police officer’ demanded Rs 10 lakh from the complainant, who got scared and paid Rs 5 lakh in four days.
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On May 1, Shilwant called the complainant again and said if he wanted the matter to be closed, he must pay Rs 10 lakh. The complainant was terrified but also developed a doubt. He approached Manpada police, who told him that people can’t face action for having a friendship or affair. An investigation guided by Senior Police Inspector DK Chaure was started. Shilwant was subsequently arrested.
Police sources said that Shilwant and his wife have been living separately. “We arrested Shilwant by laying a trap. We are investigating if his wife has a role in the case,” a police officer told mid-day.
7 April
Day complainant was first contacted by Tushar Shilwant