Police bust Rajan-linked extortionists

MUMBAI: The anti-extortion cell of the Mumbai police has arrested eight members of the Balu Dokre gang on charges of threatening businessmen across the city. The men were arrested on Tuesday for threatening a businessman based in the eastern suburbs, police said.
Balu Dokre is believed to be a key lieutenant who handles the Mumbai operations of the Chhota Rajan gang, police said.
The accused were identified as Sanjay Lot (22), Akash Siddhu (20), Ambarish Siddhu (20), Vineetkumar Ghavri (21), Amit Siddhu (23), Srikumar Singh Siddhu (20), Dinesh Karandikar (22) and Sunny Siddhu (20). They had allegedly vandalised the offices of the complainant on January 5 in the presence of the watchman. They demanded several lakhs of rupees from the businessman. They had also vandalised his south Mumbai office in December.
Apart from the eight men arrested, three others are wanted, including Sandeep Sawant, a notorious Dokre-aide. The 11 accused are also involved in thefts at Ghatkopar and N M Joshi Marg and have two cases registered against them at the Parel police station. The men were produced before a local court and remanded to police custody till March 19.