Mumbai crime branch closes case of extortion against fugitive gangster Guru Satam

Mumbai: The Anti-Extortion Cell of the city police has closed a high-profile extortion case against gangster Guru Satam, stating that the chances of getting the gangster back from South Africa are remote.

A former associate of gangster Chhota Rajan, Satam hails from Parel and fled the city in 1995. He is believed to be holed up in South Africa.

The police submitted an ‘A’ summary report where the magistrate classifies the case as true but undetected. The crime branch has informed the court that in case it makes any progress in the case, it would seek fresh permission to continue with the investigation.

There are 32 serious crimes registered against Satam.

In 2022, Mahim-based builder Kiran Patkar, a partner in RK Construction, lodged a complaint about threat calls from Satam demanding Rs 5 crore to carry out work in a redevelopment project in Parel.

Patkar had lodged a complaint with the Anti-Extortion Cell alleging that between November 2021 and January 2022 he received multiple threatening calls on his mobile and office landline numbers from international numbers from a person identifying himself as gangster Guru Satam.

The caller allegedly demanded flats in the redevelopment project and extortion money. Police registered an FIR against Satam at the Mahim police station and the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) took over the investigation.

Patkar claimed the caller threatened him by referring to his alleged criminal history and warned him that the redevelopment project would not be allowed to proceed if the demands were not met. He also alleged that threatening WhatsApp messages were sent from international numbers, including a South African number, asking why calls were not being answered.

Police said investigation showed that several calls and IP addresses originated from South Africa. The AEC through its Interpol cell made a request seeking details regarding mobile number +277... was sent to authorities in South Africa. No response was received.

Police officials in the closure summary report stated that a considerable amount of time had passed since the offence was registered and that no fresh leads had emerged. Police further noted that unless additional information is received from South African authorities regarding the Red Corner Notice or the international numbers used in the case, further progress in the investigation is unlikely.