Mumbai: Anti Extortion Cell have arrested Akil Lakdawala (53), the older brother of gangster Ejaz Lakhdawala, from his residence in Mira road, on Thursday night. Akil was arrested for threatening and demanding an extortion of Rs 50 lakh from a builder. Ejaz has been on the run and moved abroad since last many years.
According to police, a Mumbai based builder named Khalid Vasaiwala, a resident of Agripada, had complained of receiving threatening calls from international numbers. After he stopped taking these calls he began receiving threatening calls from a local number which were made by Akil Lakdawala demanding Rs 50 lakh.
A case was registered on February 27, under the relevant sections for putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, for extorting (387) and criminal conspiracy (120 B), under the Indian Penal Code. After monitoring the calls and movements of Akil, police confirmed he was in contact with his brother Ejaz and was providing information to him.
Akil was also threatening the builder on behalf of his brother. During the investigations it was revealed, Akil was in regular contact with Ejaz and has been hiring some local youth with plans to first threaten the builder Vasaiwala and kill him for not giving the extortion money.
“We were on the look out for Akil since December 2018, as he was consistently providing information about this builder to his brother and was making threatening calls on behalf”, said Dilip Sawant, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime. Police arrested Akil from his residence in Mira road on Thursday night. The accused was presented before the court and was remanded in police custody till March 8.