NCP man held for threat, extortion

A Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) politician was arrested by the Dadar police, on Thursday, for allegedly trying to extort money from a Worli-based bakery owner.

A Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) politician was arrested by the Dadar police, on Thursday, for allegedly trying to extort money from a Worli-based bakery owner.

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Hemanand Namdarian, 40, owner of Hemraz bakery, had lodged an FIR against Sandeep Deshmukh, 38, NCP’s vice president (Worli taluka). In his complaint, Namdarian alleged that Deshmukh had been trying to extort Rs 10 lakh from him since April 2010.

He also alleged that when he refused, the latter started threatening him and other bakery staff. “He and his accomplices would harass us and he threatened to get me beaten up,” Namdarian said.

Namdarian’s troubles began when Deshmukh allegedly wrote to the deputy municipal commissioner on December 8, 2009, claiming Namdarian’s bakery was illegal and was encroaching upon BMC land allotted for BEST’s electric house.

Namdarian submitted documents to the police denying the allegations. Namdarian also alleged that Deshmukh told him he was asking for money for the party fund. In his letter to the police chief dated February 8, 2010, Namdarian said Deshmukh claimed if people failed to contribute to the party fund then NCP members made an issue of it in the assembly.

The police chief ordered an inquiry in July 2010, which the police concluded in December. “We found Namdarian was being extorted, and registered his FIR against Deshmukh,” Satpal said. Deshmukh refused to comment on the matter.