Two ex-cops arrested over extortion attempt at Orion Group office

Two former police officials have been arrested for allegedly attempting to extort Tk 5 lakh from Orion Group's head office in Dhaka's Tejgaon Industrial Area by impersonating active-duty officers.

The arrestees were identified as Rezaul Karim Patwari, 49, a former sub-inspector, and Niamat Ali, 72, a retired additional superintendent of police.

A Dhaka court yesterday placed them on five-day remand after police produced them with a seven-day remand plea in an extortion case filed with Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station, said a court staffer.

Mokhlesar Rahman, senior assistant manager at Orion Group's head office, filed the case on Sunday accusing the duo.

According to case documents, a man in a Dhaka Metropolitan Police inspector's uniform entered the company's office around 3:45pm on Sunday and asked about the whereabouts of Salman Obaidul Karim and Mohammad Obaidul Karim.

When a junior admin officer asked for his identity, the man claimed to be an inspector at Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station. He was accompanied by another individual, who introduced himself as a superintendent of police at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The two claimed they were there to recover dues of Tk 55.49 lakh on behalf of a firm named M/S Jalal Uddin and demanded an additional Tk 5 lakh, the case statement said.

When asked to show official documentation, the men refused, calling the papers "government documents," and acted aggressively when questioned further, the statement added.

"Their [accused] behaviour was suspicious and threatening. They tried to pressure the company's officials into making the payment without showing any valid proof," it also read.

"Suspecting foul play, Orion Group officials contacted Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station. A police team arrived at the scene and interrogated the individuals, but they failed to provide valid identification. Later, they were taken into police custody," added the case statement.