Mumbai crime branch arrests bookie, associate in extortion case

They also allegedly threatened to abduct and kill the Borivli-based developer’s wife and son if he did not pay them Rs3.3 crore.

The Mumbai crime branch on Friday arrested a bookie and his associate for allegedly forcefully acquiring properties from a Borivli-based developer.

Both the accused will be produced in court on Saturday. (Representational Image)

They also allegedly threatened to abduct and kill the developer’s wife and son if he did not pay them Rs3.3 crore.

The arrested accused have been identified as Prakash alias Pappu Sawla and Raju Dave. Both of them are being questioned by the police and will be produced in court on Saturday.

The complainant has alleged that Sawla owed him Rs5 crore which he refused to pay, said a crime branch official.

Sawla and the complainant had reportedly been business partners and had signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) in 2012.

However, following a business dispute, Sawla started threatening him and demanding money.

According to the complainant, Sawla coerced him into transferring a sum Rs33 crores, a 3000 square feet plot in Borivli, and five commercial shops located in Borivli at different points of time over the last year.

The accused threatened to abduct and murder his wife and son if he did not make the transfers. The developer then submitted a written application to the Borivli police station against the accused and approached senior officials of the Mumbai police.