Surendranagar police on Wednesday arrested four men for allegedly impersonating income tax officers and extorting valuables at gunpoint from a local resident.
The accused have been identified as Rajkumar Pandya and Rakesh Soni, both residents of Dakor and Nandu Vastekar and Manoj Variyani from Vadodara. Police seized Rs 2.23 lakh in cash, gold jewellery worth Rs 2 lakh and two SUVs valued at Rs 20 lakh from their possession.
The arrests were made following a complaint lodged at Zinzuwada police station, where the victim reported that the accused had trespassed into his house, flashed fake income tax ID cards, and demanded Rs 6.5 lakh for a "settlement." When the victim refused, they allegedly threatened him at gunpoint, forcing him to hand over cash and gold before fleeing.
Investigations further revealed that Rakesh Soni, a relative of the complainant, masterminded the fake raid by exploiting his knowledge of the victim's financial condition. Police have confirmed that three other accused are still absconding, and efforts are underway to trace them.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and verify the identity of officials conducting searches or raids, stressing that genuine income tax officers always follow due process and legal protocols.
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