{
  "id": 17339854,
  "title": "Gang posing as cops ‘kidnap, extort’ Surat man, 4 held",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/gang-posing-as-cops-kidnap-extort-surat-man-4-held",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T04:50:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/surat-web-developer-kidnapped-fake-cops-extortion-four-arrested-10944444/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A web developer from Surat, Mihit Desai, was allegedly kidnapped by a gang posing as Gandhinagar police personnel, with four suspects now in custody. The 22-year-old from Amreli allegedly ran an office in Sarthana area, where three youths broke in last Saturday. One of them snatched Desai's phone and locked the door, pretending to be police officers. They demanded tax-related information and documents but were given false details. The gang then threatened Desai and his employees, claiming their business was illegal, and forced them into a car. Two members remained at the office, while the others took Desai away. After negotiations, the gang agreed to accept Rs 4 lakh as part payment. Desai contacted his brother, who arranged the money and met the accused in Kamrej. The gang had previously rented a car used by the Gandhinagar cyber crime department. Four suspects were identified: Pratik Hirani, Sahikumar Parmar, Yash Bariya, and Ronakpuri Goswami. The Sarthana police registered the incident under multiple charges, including extortion, unlawful assembly, impersonating a public servant, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, and criminal intimidation.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "22-year-old Mihit Desai from Surat kidnapped by gang posing as police.",
    "Four suspects arrested: Pratik Hirani, Sahikumar Parmar, Yash Bariya, Ronakpuri Goswami.",
    "Gang demanded tax-related information, threatened Desai and employees."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The use of official vehicles and fake identities to target local business owners marks a dangerous escalation in criminal tactics designed to exploit the authority of law enforcement for extortion.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}