A gang of former clean-up marshals allegedly reinvented themselves as extortionists in Dharavi, posing as BMC officials and threatening small industrial units with fake child labour cases. The three accused, along with an unidentified male accomplice, allegedly extorted about Rs 80,000 in a single day in October, collecting money from multiple shopkeepers across Rajiv Gandhi Nagar and Ambedkar Chawl. Their year-long racket collapsed when local businessmen demanded to see their ID cards, exposing the fraud.
Dharavi police said the gang, identified as Dipali Deepak Dalvi, 24, Megha Sonawane, 42, Hanumanta Nagappa Kunchikurve, 36, and another unknown man, targeted small units where children happened to be present. They would threaten immediate action from the BMC unless money was paid on the spot.
One of the victims, Abid Bign Sheikh, 35, who runs a bag manufacturing unit, lodged the latest FIR. He said that on October 30, Dipali and Megha entered his unit claiming to be from the BMC. After seeing his son and his brother’s son playing inside, they allegedly warned him of severe legal consequences under child labour laws unless he paid R25,000 immediately. Fearing action, he paid.
The gang would threaten immediate action from the BMC unless money was paid on the spot. BMC HQ. File pic/Ashish Raje ; (right) Hanumanta Nagappa Kunchikurve, one of the accused, who was arrested. Pic/By Special Arrangement
Police said at least four complainants have come forward so far, stating they paid between Rs 5000 and Rs 25,000 each. More victims are expected. Sheikh told mid-day the women had promised to return on November 6, prompting him to alert other shopkeepers. “We all agreed to ask for ID cards the next time they came. They did not show up that day, but when they returned on December 1 with Hanumanta, they again demanded money. When we asked for IDs, they gave vague answers. That is when we knew something was wrong,” he said.
The confrontation escalated and, with help from nearby shopkeepers, Sheikh managed to catch Hanumanta, who had entered the unit for the first time. Dipali, Megha and the unidentified man fled.
Dharavi police arrested Hanumanta, who works as a bouncer, early on December 2. PSI Vikas Shelar, the investigating officer, confirmed that all three accused had previously worked as clean-up marshals. “After the service ended, they began threatening shopkeepers and collecting extortion money. On December 1, they entered units together, which allowed the businessmen to catch one of them,” he said.
A detection team led by PSI Shelar, and comprising Dattatray Varkhade, Umesh Soyanke, Bajrang Landge and Santosh Kakad, carried out the arrest. Police believe more victims will come forward as the gang is suspected to have been operating for nearly a year.
Rs 25,000
Amount paid by one shop owner, Abid Bign Sheikh
