4 ‘social workers’ held for cheating 14 farmers

Mumbai: Five men were arrested for allegedly cheating and extorting money from farmers who received compensation for land acquired for a Rs 1,500-crore gas pipeline project in Palghar.
Fourteen farmers told police they were beaten up and forced to pay commission from money they got for land acquisition. Madhukar Kakra, Narayan Dable, Rupesh Patil, Doshiram Ghatal and Janu Mor, who claimed to be social workers, had approached the farmers to “help” them get a better deal for land.They are now in police custody
They demanded 35% commission for being mediators. The farmers who were in touch with the company engaged in the project, got compensation for land in January. The money was credited to their accounts. When the accused learnt about it, they approached the farmers and demanded commission.
The farmers refused to pay the commission as the accused played no role in getting them compensation. The accused assaulted the farmers at their homes, after which they approached Manor police.
The case was handed over to Economic Offences Wing (EOW) who booked the accused under sections 420 (cheating), 384 (extortion) and 385 (putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion) of the IPC.
The project involves laying a 486-km gas pipeline from Dahej in Gujarat to Nagothane in Raigad district.