Bengaluru police arrested five habitual offenders who pretended to be Central Crime Branch officers, abducted a 25‑year‑old gym trainer and tried to extort ₹5 lakh by threatening a narcotics case. The suspects even continued the impersonation during a phone call with a real officer, saying “My boss will talk to you.”

Key Takeaways

  • Five repeat offenders arrested for posing as Central Crime Branch officers and kidnapping a gym trainer.
  • Victim was extorted for ₹5 lakh under threat of being booked under the NDPS Act.
  • Investigation linked the case to a similar attempted kidnapping, and all suspects have prior murder‑related charges.

The Bengaluru police announced on Tuesday that five habitual criminals were taken into custody for masquerading as officers of the Central Crime Branch (CCB), abducting a 25‑year‑old gym trainer named Mithul, and demanding a ransom of ₹5 lakh. The kidnapping took place on June 19 when the suspects intercepted the victim in an autorickshaw near JP Nagar, claimed to be CCB officials, and forced him into a car.

Method of Deception

To lend credibility to their ruse, the gang deliberately stopped close to a police station, creating the impression that they were genuine officers. Two of the men even entered the JP Nagar police station under the pretext of making a general enquiry, only to return minutes later with the victim in tow. During the subsequent investigation, a CCB officer called one of the suspects; the suspect continued to pose as an officer and said, “My boss will talk to you,” unaware that he was speaking to a real police official.

Personal Motive and Repeated Modus Operandi

Investigators uncovered that the gang learned about Mithul through a mutual acquaintance who was allegedly embroiled in a dispute over a woman. The same group was later suspected of attempting a similar kidnapping in Rajanukunte, but the intended target alerted the 112 emergency helpline, forcing the perpetrators to flee. This pattern revealed that the incident was not isolated but part of a broader criminal network employing the same tactics.

Legal Action and Accused Background

Police examined CCTV footage and gathered technical evidence to trace the five suspects: Tirumala V (28) of Yelahanka New Town, Shanth Kumar (44) of Vidyaranyapura, Prem Sai (30) of Yelahanka, Ranjeeth Rao (31) of RT Nagar, and Namith alias Abhi (29) of RT Nagar. All have multiple pending cases, including murder and attempted murder, alongside charges of impersonating a public servant, extortion, and criminal intimidation. They have been remanded to judicial custody while authorities continue to locate an additional suspect believed to have helped identify the victim.

Broader Implications

The case highlights a growing trend of organized crime groups exploiting the authority of law‑enforcement agencies to intimidate civilians. Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant, report any suspicious police‑like behavior promptly, and cooperate fully with investigations to curb such dangerous impersonations.