The crime branch's Intelligence Unit (CIU) on Thursday arrested three people who allegedly tried to extort Rs 15 crore from a city-based builder at the behest of fugitive don Chhota Rajan. The accused later settled at Rs 7 crore to allow one of the builder's constructions to be completed, and were trapped when they came to claim the money, the police said.
The accused have been identified as Kasim Peer Mohammad Qureshi, Mukesh Manohar Ghag and Eknath Chandrakant Ghadge, all residents of Nav Maharashtra Nagar, Tardeo.
The complainant, who did not wish to be identified, works as a site coordinator at MP Mill compound in Tardeo for the construction company. The project includes slum rehabilitation work. According to police sources, the complainant had submitted an application to police commissioner Rakesh Maria on May 7, alleging that the construction company had been receiving threats. The case was handed over to the CIU. The complainant's statement was recorded on Thursday and a First Information Report (FIR) was registered.
"As per the complainant, the accused have been trying to create hurdles in the project. In February 2014, the accused came to the site and threatened the complainant that if they wanted to complete the project, they will have to pay Rs 15 crore. Qureshi claimed to be a Rajan man," said a crime branch officer.
In March this year, the complainant's boss also had a meeting with the accused in a hotel at Kemps Corner where the three threatened to kill him. "The company then got the deal set for Rs 7 crore and the accused were called to a hotel in Tardeo. We had laid a trap for them there and arrested them as soon as they arrived to claim the money. Qureshi has a criminal record," the officer said.
The accused were produced before the court on Friday, which remanded them to police custody.
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