Woman held for running extortion racket

From her home near the shores of Uttan, this Class 10 dropout managed an extortion empire in the city on behalf of her gang leader based in faraway Hong Kong, reports HT Correspondent.

From her home near the shores of Uttan, this Class 10 dropout managed an extortion empire in the city on behalf of her gang leader based in faraway Hong Kong.

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Swati Bund (32) was arrested by the Crime Branch from Uttan in Bhayander (W) on Thursday for allegedly running the extortion empire of Hong Kong-based underworld kingpin Kumar Pillai.

“She was his pointperson in Mumbai for the last year and half,” said Joint commissioner of police, crime, Rakesh Maria.

The police have learnt that the gang used to pay her between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 every month.

Bund’s arrest followed a tip-off during the interrogation of two of Pillai’s hitmen arrested on November 18. During their interrogation, the police learnt that the weapon found on them was given by Bund.

“She is in constant touch with Pillai and his associate, Prasad Pujari,” said Maria. “She received weapons and instructed the gang’s foot soldiers to collect ransom on behalf of Pillai.”

Bund has been remanded in police custody till November 23.