A Kenyan businesswoman is counting heavy losses after being robbed of ₹66.45 lakh (approximately Ksh9.3 million) in Mumbai by individuals posing as Indian police officers.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 27, outside the Alana Centre building on Mahatma Gandhi Road, as the woman was returning to her hotel with a friend.
The two suspects, wearing helmets and masks, intercepted their taxi and demanded to search the vehicle, claiming to be law enforcement officials.
Using false police identification, they questioned the woman about her bags and eventually seized them, taking the cash before instructing her to report to the nearest police station. They then fled the scene on a motorcycle.
Realizing she had been conned, the woman, with assistance from the taxi driver, rushed to the MRA Marg police station. Officers there informed her that similar incidents had been reported, confirming a pattern of such crimes targeting visitors.
The entrepreneur, identified as Sumaiya Mohammad Abadi, is based in Nairobi and deals in children’s garments. She had arrived in India on Monday, January 26, and was staying in a hotel in Mumbai.
Prior to the robbery, she had met a Kenyan friend in Kalbadevi, who gave her ₹58 lakh (Ksh8.1 million) in cash intended for payment to a wholesale trader for her garments.
“The Kenyan woman was visiting the city for the first time to buy clothes for her business. She had visited India earlier, in 2023, as a tourist,” a police officer told the Hindustan Times.
Indian police have launched a manhunt for the suspects, using CCTV footage and patrols to track them down.
Authorities confirmed that a person had been detained based on evidence, including the bike registration number captured during the crime. Investigations are ongoing, and once apprehended, the suspects will face charges of cheating and impersonating a public servant.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of foreign visitors in Mumbai, highlighting the need for vigilance against criminals exploiting trust in law enforcement.
Police have urged travelers to remain cautious and verify identities before complying with officials requesting searches or cash.
