Cops bust gang of extortionists

MUMBAI: A gang of four was busted by the anti-extortion cell on Wednesday. The police said the men were allegedly demanding protection money from a businessman at the behest of Harish Mandvikar, an accused in the murder case of matka king Suresh Bhagat.
The accused have been identified as Bala Naikum alias Pale (30), Mrinal Desai (26), Nitesh Lavangare (26) and Deepak Naidu (27).
According to the police, the complainant manages a business of stone-mining at Kaman in Bhiwandi. The complainant was repeatedly attacked by unidentified people after which one Manoj Naidu, who claimed to be an aide of Mandvikar, contacted him. “Naidu started demanding protection money from the complainant at the behest of Mandvikar, who is lodged in Kolhapur jail,” said a police officer.