Mumbai: Five people arrested for allegedly demanding Rs 18 crore to avoid obstructing a Bandra redevelopment project were remanded in police custody until Sept 9 by a court on Saturday. Anti-Extortion Cell had arrested Ethel Steven (49), Daniel Steven (52), Nazir Shaikh (47), Abdullah Khan (51) and Remy Fernandes (51) in a trap operation on Sept 2.
Police said the demand was reduced to Rs 11 crore after negotiations. The analysis allegedly revealed communication between the arrested and wanted accused before and during the offence. Police sought four more days’ custody to investigate an alleged Chhota Rajan gang connection, trace wanted accused and possible accomplices, examine bank statements and phone data, recover documents and a weapon, and determine whether similar offences had been committed. Cyber experts extracted data from the accused’s phones after police suspected incriminating material had been deleted. The accused allegedly demanded the money for not obstructing the project, withdrawing cases and not threatening the complainant and others through Chhota Rajan gang members.