Cops nab top Rajan aide
D.K. Rao was held for extortion during a family function.
Mumbai: In a major action against the incarcerated gangster Chhota Rajan’s gang in the city, the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of Mumbai crime branch arrested Ravi Mallesh Bohra (49) alias D.K. Rao, who is reckoned to be his close aide, in a fresh extortion case late on Tuesday. Rao was picked up during a family function at his Dharavi residence, officials said.
The arrest of the key Rajan gang member came on the heels of the Thane Crime Branch’s crackdown on September 18 on the alleged extortion activities of the fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s gang, in which his brother Iqbal Kaskar and two of his aides were arrested, while Dawood, his brother Anees and close aide Chhota Shakeel were named as wanted accused. Their financer cum matka operator Pankaj Gangar is also arrested.
CIU officials arrested Rao for threatening and demanding Rs 50 lakh from a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) consultant asking him to get off the project.
Investigations revealed that the victim is associated with a held up project -, known as Nirmal Nagar Cooperative Housing Society- in Dharavi, backyard of Rao. Rao began his activities soon after his release from the prison and it is stated that the demand was made four months ago however the money never changed hands.
“Rao was in prison since July 2016 and ever since his release there have been complaints of him threatening people associated with construction business and also demanding extortion. The current complaint pertains to a project in Dharavi with 1000 tenants,” said Dilip Sawant, deputy commissioner of police, (Detection, crime branch).
Officials have learnt that the said project was not getting clearance until recently also because there was a dispute between two property developers. It was however cleared and once the way was cleared, Rao came in the picture and he started threatening the SRA consultant.
The consultant approached the crime branch and lodged a complaint with them a case was subsequently registered with the Dharavi police station late on Tuesday. Rao is stated to have been picked up soon after from his residence.