Diamond trader makes extortion bid, arrested in Mumbai

The Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) officials have nabbed a businessman dealing in diamonds for allegedly trying to extort Rs50 lakh from a developer-cum-businessman by threatening to kill him. According to police, the arrested accused has been identified as Naleem Amarchand Gala, 34, a resident of Ghatkopar. Gala is a diploma holder in Electronics Engineering from VJTI, Matunga. The victim is a real estate developer and also has a business of dry fruits in Ghatkopar. The police said Gala has debts of Rs7 lakh and that perhaps is the reason why he threatened to kill the victim in order to extort money. 

Gala was demanding Rs50 lakh from the victim since the past two weeks without disclosing his name. After receiving 10 threatening calls on his mobile, the victim approached the AEC and lodged a complaint.

“Following the complaint, AEC laid a trap and advised the victim to tell Gala that he was willing to give the money. The accused was called near Radhakrishna hotel in Ghatkopar. The AEC officials then nabbed Gala before he could leave the place after collecting the money,” said Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police.

“During investigation we came to know that Gala was burdened with a Rs7 lakh debt and was trying to find ways to settle it,” added Roy.

Gala was handed over to the Ghatkopar police station for further investigation.