MCOCA slapped on accused plotting scribe's murder

The crime branch has invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against four men arrested for allegedly plotting to kill a Mumbai-based journalist at the behest of a fugitive gangster. The court has remanded them to police custody till September 25.

On September 6, the police arrested Madanchand Sonkar, 27, Ashutosh Verma, 22, and Rambahadur Chauhan, 27.

According to the police, the gangster had directed them to kill the journalist for disparaging him in a newspaper report. Abdul Karim Sheikh, who had allegedly arranged a vehicle for the other three, was arrested on September 9. The gangster also figures in the case as a wanted accused, a crime branch officer said. The accused had received Rs 1.25 lakh for the job.

Following the threat, the crime branch had provided security to the journalist.