Extortion case: Dawood's brother Iqbal Kaskar's list had 20 bizmen, say cops

The Thane Police on Tuesday claimed that in the past four years at least 20 builders, jewellers and businessmen from Mumbai and nearby cities were allegedly targeted for extortion money by Iqbal Kaskar and his aides. The police will now record the statement of these 'victims' of Kaskar in order to bolster their case against him.

Speaking to DNA, a senior police officer, who is privy to the investigation of Kaskar's extortion case, said, "Though the current extortion took place in 2016, Kaskar and his men are believed to have extorted as many as 20 builders, businessmen and jewellers from Mumbai Metropolitan Region to the tune of crores of rupees."

As per the officer, Kaskar used to operate smartly while targeting his victims. "Two of his henchmen, who are also accused in the current extortion case, used to meet the victims and would dial Kaskar's number from their phone. They would then make Kaskar speak to the victims."

Since Kaskar used to drop Dawood's name, too, while threatening the victims, the police are examining if Dawood had a role to play in the extortion threats issued by his brother. "If we get any concrete evidence against Dawood, then we would certainly add his name in the FIR as well. We are probing if calls were made and received from Pakistan by Kaskar and his men," the officer said.

As per the police, the biggest evidence in the current extortion case against Kaskar is that the group had forcibly extorted four flats and Rs 30 lakh in cash from a builder and one of the accused was found occupying the flat when the police searched it. A team of 55 police personnel headed by Senior Inspector Pradeep Sharma arrested Kaskar from his Nagpada residence on Monday night.