Goa Shiv Sena chief booked for extortion

Goa police have booked state Shiv Sena chief Upendra Gaonkar alongwith party's vice-president Umesh Salgaoncar for allegedly trying to extort Rs 15 lakh from a casino management, police said today.

While Salgaoncar was arrested last night, search is on to track Gaonkar, they said.

The complaint was lodged at Porvorim police station, 5 kms away from here by Hotel Majestic, which runs land-based casino.

Police said that Gaonkar had personally contacted the hotel management demanding money, which was scaled down from initial Rs 50 lakh to Rs 15 lakh and later to Rs 50,000.

Shiv Sena in the past has publicly opposed Casinos in the state and were part of the public agitation against this gambling den.