‘Special 26’ Style Crime in Mumbai: Fake Officials Stage Income Tax Raid, Target Businessman, Demand INR 1 Crore

In an operation reminiscent of the movie Special 26, Mumbai Police have arrested six individuals-including a former driver-for posing as Income Tax and Crime Branch officers, staging a four-hour fake raid at a medical equipment supplier's office in Andheri East, abducting the business owner and his wife, and demanding a ₹1 crore bribe.

'Special 26' Style Heist at Sahar Cargo Estate

The incident unfolded at the Chakala premises of Two-M-Opthotronics Private Limited, a company owned by 49-year-old Rajkumar Kandasamy that supplies surgical and ophthalmology equipment.

On July 17, at approximately 4:55 PM, Kandasamy received a frantic call from an employee informing him that a team of Income Tax officers had entered the office, confiscated the mobile phones of all 11 employees present, and turned off the CCTV cameras. Shortly after, an unknown caller claiming to be an Income Tax official threatened Kandasamy, demanding he immediately reach the office or face being picked up from his home. 'Movie-Like' Robbery Caught on Camera in Maharashtra: Thieves Steal From Moving Truck in Dharashiv, 6 Arrested Following Police Action (Watch Videos).

Abduction and Confiscation at Gunpoint of Authority

As Kandasamy and his wife waited outside their Sakinaka residence for a taxi, two men on motorcycles intercepted them. One of the men flashed a fake Income Tax identity card, confiscated the couple's mobile phones, and forced them into their booked Uber cab to transport them to the office under coercion.

Upon arriving at the Chakala office around 5:50 PM, Kandasamy found a group of five men and three women inside. The impostors, dressed in formal attire and carrying official-looking files, were conducting mock questioning and reviewing financial documents. One member of the gang presented a purported search warrant and forced Kandasamy to sign it.

Extortion Demand and Cash Seizure

During the interrogation, the fake officers targeted Kandasamy's cash transactions, claiming his monthly cash expenses exceeded legal limits. The group seized ₹1.7 lakh in cash from the premises and threatened him with a ₹1.44 crore statutory tax penalty.

The gang then demanded a ₹1 crore payment to drop the case and avoid immediate arrest. When Kandasamy insisted on receiving an official notice and paying directly to the Income Tax Department, the gang verbally abused him, coerced his signature on a blank paper, and fled the scene around 8:00 PM. Robbery Caught on Camera in Mangolpuri: Masked Men Armed With Knives Loot Cloth Shop in Shocking Late-Night Heist in Delhi; Video Surfaces.

Police Investigation Uncovers Mastermind Behind Scam

Fearing the impostors might be genuine officials, Kandasamy initially hesitated to approach law enforcement. After verifying with his chartered accountant and confirming with the Income Tax Department that no raid had been authorized, he lodged a formal complaint with the Andheri Police.

Police launched a multi-angle technical investigation—analyzing CCTV footage, mobile dump data, and call detail records—which revealed that the operation was masterminded by Santosh Uday Khopatkar (37), Kandasamy's former driver who had been dismissed a year prior. Khopatkar had used his intimate knowledge of the company's daily financial routines to organize the gang.

Officers arrested Khopatkar alongside five accomplices: Vinay Ramesh More (37), Prem Kisan Sabnani (50), Pradnya Harish Main (27), Reshma Shyamrao Warang (41), and Sabina Hafiz Shaikh (48). Two other suspects, including two already in judicial custody for a separate case in Manpada, have been linked to the operation.

Investigators are currently examining seized mobile phones, verifying fake identity cards and forged search warrants, and probing whether the group carried out similar fake raids under the guise of FDA, Police, or Income Tax officials in other parts of Maharashtra.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 06, 2026 11:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).