Nagpur: Hudkeshwar Police have registered a case against two men for allegedly impersonating a journalist and a police officer, assaulting an 18-year-old labourer, and attempting to extort ₹2 lakh by falsely claiming that goods loaded in a pickup vehicle were illegal.

The incident took place on the night of July 28 near Fitness Star Gym in Prabhat Nagar, Narsala, under the jurisdiction of Hudkeshwar Police Station.

The complainant, Nikhil Raghunath Ladke (18), a resident of Nilkamal Nagar, told police that he had gone to cover a Bolero pickup vehicle with a tarpaulin. The vehicle, owned by his cousin, was carrying school nutrition and Anganwadi supply materials.

According to the complaint, two men approached him and introduced themselves as a journalist and a police officer. They allegedly claimed that the goods being transported were illegal and insisted that the vehicle and its cargo would have to be seized.

Police said the duo then allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh, telling the complainant that the goods would be released only if he paid the amount immediately.

When Ladke informed them that the vehicle belonged to his cousin and asked them to produce their identity cards, the accused allegedly became aggressive. They allegedly abused him, assaulted him with fists and blows, and left him injured before fleeing the spot.

After undergoing medical treatment, the complainant approached Hudkeshwar Police and lodged an FIR.

Based on his complaint, police registered a case against Sandeep Suradkar and Rakesh Dhargathe under Sections 115(2), 306(5) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for offences related to voluntarily causing hurt, extortion and acts committed with common intention.

Police are verifying the identities of the accused and investigating whether they have impersonated public officials in similar incidents in the past.

Further investigation is underway.