Hazare effect: Mumbai hawkers help police nab a 'fake' ACB cop

The accused, identified as Pradeep Tiwari, was caught on Thursday night after he was chased by a constable from Dadar of Central Mumbai, they said.

Tiwari had been extorting Rs 10 each from the hawkers at Bhaji Galli for the past few days by posing self as a policeman attached with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

"A fake ACB card was also recovered from him. He also threatened hawkers claiming he had good contacts with Crime Branch, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and CBI officials. If they don't pay the money, they will not be allowed to conduct business on the streets," said B Landge, inspector at Shivaji Park police station.

Another officer said the hawkers were "inspired" by Hazare's anti corruption movement and hence had pledged not to offer bribe to anyone. When asked Landge said, "I heard of influence of Hazare's movement on the hawkers."

On the day of the incident, introducing self as an ACB cop, Tiwari demanded Rs 10 from a vegetable vendor Rakesh Vaish who got suspicious about his credentials and alerted fellow vendors and cops.

As a constable intercepted him, Tiwari claimed that he was an ACB cop and had "good contacts". After a while, he started running away from the spot and caught and arrested for extortion, police said.