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ACP caught in extortion case

The officer posted with the special branch of Pune police committed the crime at Wai in Satara district

Acase of extortion has been registered against an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) with Pune City police, at Bhuinj police station in Satara, on Tuesday. The officer, Deepak Humbare, had already been sent on leave by the commissioner of police (CP) before the lockdown, pursuant to receiving several complaints against the man.

While on leave, Humbare chose to wear the uniform and demand money from a person against whom there was an inquiry related to a firing case.

About 15 days ago, a minor dispute between two groups led to an exchange of fire, in which a person was injured. Cross complaints were filed in the case and the accused had absconded. The complainant against Humbare, who was associated with the incident, was called to the police station for routine inquiry.

According to the FIR filed, “Complainant was at police station on May 17 for an inquiry. On returning home, he received a call from ACP Humbare, offering to intervene in the case, claiming to have good contacts at the police station and promising to keep the complainant out of the case.” He was summoned to Wai state transport bus stand for negotiation and he went accompanied by his friend. Humbare, who met them at the appointed place, the next day, initially demanded Rs 50,000, which was beaten down to Rs 40,000, to do the needful.

However, the complainant later realised that he was not a suspect in the case and had been only called for a routine inquiry and so he filed a complaint against Humbare at the same Bhuinj police station. “Offence has been registered on receiving the complaint and investigation is underway,” confirmed Tejaswi Satpute, Satara superintendent of police.

On being referred to the case, the Pune police have sent their report to the office of the director general of police (DGP). “We’ve shared his service record, the complaints received against him from the public and the fact that he’d already been sent on leave, with the DGP’s office, so there is some firm action against him,” said Pune police commissioner K Venkatesham.

Humbare is at present posted with special branch under the Pune police commissionerate. He has been on leave for the last three months. The extortion episode happened on Monday. A case has been registered against him under sections 384 (extortion) and 385 (putting a person in fear of injury to commit extortion) of the Indian Penal Code.

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