Mumbai: Kherwadi police arrested three Powai residents on Wednesday for allegedly posing as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials and extorting Rs 19,500 from a businessman after accusing him of smoking in an auto-rickshaw.The accused–Amit Kulaye (34), Sudheer Pujari (32) and Vinod Sadar (36)–were arrested with assistance from Powai police’s detection staff, led by assistant inspector Pranod Mane, on a FIR registered on August 28.Complainant Jubin Shah (37), a businessman from Ghatkopar East, was travelling home in an auto-rickshaw around 10.45 am on May 25. When the vehicle reached Hans Bhugra Junction on Western Express Highway, under Vakola bridge in Bandra East, two motorcycle-borne men stopped it.Police said the men claimed to be BMC employees and accused Shah of smoking inside the rickshaw, saying he must pay a fine. When Shah asked to see their identity cards, they allegedly told him not to act smart and pointed towards another man who had arrived on a second motorcycle.Claiming the third man was their boss, they demanded Rs 19,500 as a fine. They allegedly asked Shah to accompany them to the police station and later left the spot.Shah approached Kherwadi police, where an FIR was registered on Aug 28. Investigators examined CCTV footage and used technical surveillance to trace the accused to Powai.Police said part of the money had been spent. They recovered Rs 10,850 and seized two motorcycles from the accused, who were produced in court and remanded to judicial custody for two days.