The Mumbai police busted a gang of four persons, including a woman, that had “raided” and looted gold and cash worth over `2-crore, from bullion dealer from Zaveri Bazar in south Mumbai on Monday, by masquerading as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers.
Cracking the case within 24 hours of the crime, the LT Marg police arrested three members of the gang — M. Fazal S Gilitwala (50), M.Raji Rafiq, (37) and a middle-aged woman, Vishakha Vishwas Mudhole from Khed town in Ratnagiri.
The police also recovered a major portion of the loot from them. The investigators are looking out for the fourth member of the gang.
The incident has left traders and businessmen at Zaveri Bazar — the hub of gold jewellery business in south Mumbai – dumbfounded.
Talking to media persons here on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (II) Abhinav Deshmukh said that: “Yesterday afternoon, Gilitwala and Rafiq barged into the offices of VBL Bullions at Zaveri Bazar and assaulted one of the attendants. Claiming themselves to be from the ED, the gangsters demanded to meet the company owner, Viratbhai. Before long, started searching the office and staffers, confiscated their mobiles, and announced that “this is an ED raid” and ordered them to collect all the cash, gold and other valuables”.