Following a complaint lodged by 25‑year‑old gym trainer Mithul Kunder from J.P. Nagar, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bengaluru arrested five habitual criminals on July 13. The accused had masqueraded as CCB officers, seized the victim at a club on June 19, and subsequently fabricated a drug‑trafficking narrative to extort ₹5 lakh.

Chronology of the Crime

At approximately 5:30 p.m., six men arrived in a car, identified themselves as CCB police, halted the ongoing sports session, and forced Mithul into their vehicle. They accused him of transporting 500 kg of ganja, confiscated his bag and mobile, and even placed an LSD stamp inside his pouch to make the allegation appear authentic. The perpetrators also compelled the victim to unlock his phone and captured photographs from it.

Ransom Demands and Threats

Initially, the gang demanded ₹1.8 lakh, claiming the money was needed to bribe police officials. When Mithul offered only ₹40,000, the assailants released him with a warning to arrange a larger sum. The following day, one of the accused, identified as Sai, called the victim and raised the demand to ₹5 lakh, threatening to kill him if the payment was not made.

Investigation and Arrests

DCP (Crime) Imam Khasim Raja supervised the probe, gathering CCTV footage from multiple locations and tracing the suspects to Rajanukunte, where they were apprehended. The arrested individuals have been identified as Tirumala V. (28), Shanth Kumar (44), Prem Sai (30), Ranjeeth Rao (31) and Namith alias Abhi (29). Authorities continue to search for an additional accomplice.

Wider Implications

This incident underscores the vulnerability of citizens to impersonation scams that exploit law‑enforcement authority. The CCB has pledged stricter verification protocols and public awareness drives to deter future misuse of police identities. The case also raises questions about the adequacy of safeguards for individuals who may be targeted by organized criminal groups posing as officials.