Gangland abduction: Victim’s kin paid accused Rs 40 lakh, suspect Mumbai Police | Mumbai News
Mumbai: The family and friends of Sajjid Electricwala, who was abducted over a drug-linked financial dispute, allegedly paid the accused Rs 40 lakh, said police. With known criminal antecedents of each of the seven members arrested, the Mumbai Crime Branch is seriously considering invoking the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused, citing a clear pattern of organised extortion and violence.Crime branch arrested seven members of the gang for allegedly kidnapping Sajjid and his friend Shabbir Siddiqui over a financial dispute of Rs 50 lakh, which Sajjid took under the promise of delivering a mephedrone-amnufacturing factory. The gang, headed by Sarwar Khan, a close aide of Chhota Shakeel’s brother Anwar, allegedly confined the victims in various places in Raigad, Madhya Pradesh, and finally Banda district in Uttar Pradesh. The attackers allegedly threatened to kill them unless the money was returned.“During the preliminary inquiries, it appears that the victims’ family and friends paid Rs 35-40 lakh to the gang. We are trying to verify this,” said an officer.Police said it was only after Shabbir escaped and informed Mumbai Police that a team raided a place in Banda district, rescued Sajjid, and arrested Yunus Umar Pill, Mohammad Tausif Hanif Zendi, Satish Kadu, Santosh Waghmare, Sarvar Khan, Mehtab Ali, and Rahul Sawant.“Sajjid and Shabbir are also involved in drug peddling, but in this case, they are victims,” said an officer. Sources said that late Thursday, police were grilling Sajjid. Police are also examining whether any case is made out against Sajjid.
