PANAJI
In a shocking incident, a businessman operating in North Goa was talked into coughing up one lakh rupees in 'hafta' payment by an unknown person who on a phone call impersonated former Superintendent of Police Mahesh Gaonkar.
Gaonkar was attached to the Crime Branch when he retired on superannuation a few months ago.
The Crime Branch has registered a case against the unknown accused on Monday after the incident which took place some five days ago was reported by the victim Gagandeep Singh Saghal.
Crime Branch sources said, Saghal received a call from an unknown number and the caller claimed to be the SP from the Crime Branch.
During the conversation, he was told to send Rs one lakh and deliver the money a specific spot in Anjuna which the businessmen did by sending the amount through one of his staff.
Crime Branch is investigating the cheating case which they have booked under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code.
It may be recalled that the Cyber Crime cell of the Goa Police had arrested a 42-year-old man for impersonating Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Whatsapp.
He had allegedly created a fake Whatsapp account of Sawant and also sent messages to some politicians and others over several days.
