Thane: The anti-extortion cell of the Thane crime branch has arrested a 50-year-old builder-cum-Instagram influencer with two country-made pistols and seven bullets. Moreover, four fake cops have also been arrested for allegedly duping the builder of Rs 40 lakh.The accused has been identified as Surendra Patil, a resident of Dombivli and the police said he had played a role as child artist in yesteryear TV serial Ramayana, said Shivraj Patil, deputy commissioner of police (crime).Patil had made an Instagram reel last November where he could be seen sitting on an officers chair at Manpada police station. The reel had gone viral and he was booked for it.Based on information that Patil had an illegal weapon inside his car, senior inspector of anti-extortion cell Shekhar Bagde, laid a trap and arrested him and seized country-made pistols and seven bullets.During the interrogation, the police learnt that eight other accused had offered him Rs 1.6 crore counterfeit currency notes in exchange of Rs 40 lakh genuine currency notes and had called him at a farmhouse in Murbad area. As he reached the location, the accused posing as policemen intercepted him and under the guise of a raid fled with Rs 40 lakh cash. He had procured the country-made pistols in a bid to protect himself in case anything goes wrong while dealing with the people exchanging the cash, said Bagde.The police then registered a separate case in which the four accused were arrested and launched a search to nab four others who had cheated Patil.Of the total stolen amount, we have managed to recover Rs 14 lakh from the four arrested accused. We have also seized a Mercedes car worth around Rs 50 lakh, the police officer said.We also published the following articles recentlyThane: Builder held with illegal weapons; four others held for cheating him of Rs 40 lakhThane builder and Instagram influencer, Surendra Patil, was arrested with two country-made pistols and seven bullets by the anti-extortion cell. He was also cheated of Rs 40 lakh by fake cops. Patil, a former child artist in the Ramayana serial, went viral on Instagram for sitting on an officers chair at Manpada police station. He had procured the pistols for self-protection while dealing with people exchanging cash. Four accused have been arrested and a separate case has been registered to nab four others. The police have recovered Rs 14 lakh cash and a Mercedes car.Ulhasnagar Police clear RTI activist of firearm allegations, accuse builder of framing himUlhasnagar businessman and RTI activist, Moti Duseja, has been absolved of any involvement in a case where a revolver and cartridges were recovered from his plywood shop. The recent charge sheet filed in court states that Duseja is not implicated in the offense. Duseja, who had received threats due to his expose of land mafias, was arrested but released on bail. He has demanded a CBI inquiry into his case, suspecting the involvement of some police officials in fabricating false charges against him and pointing out inconsistencies in the FIR and investigation details.

Stay updated with all the Latest Thane headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.