The Sessions Court has denied anticipatory bail to builder Rajwinder Singh, proprietor of Rajlakshmi Companies, in an alleged extortion case linked to a Bandra redevelopment project.
The case pertains to last month when the Anti-Extortion Cell arrested five persons, including a brother and sister, for allegedly trying to extort Rs 11 crore from a developer over a prime property in Bandra. Singh and one Remi Fernandes, who is allegedly connected with the Rajan gang, have been shown as absconding accused. The case was initially registered at Bandra police station and later transferred to the Anti-Extortion Cell of Mumbai Crime Branch.
Additional Sessions Judge PA Sable rejected Singh’s bail application after the prosecution said that Singh provided ₹10 lakh and subsequently sent men to the redevelopment site. Singh denied involvement, claiming he was falsely implicated due to a property dispute. The court noted video recordings, call records, mobile data and financial transactions indicating his alleged links with co-accused.
It noted that the alleged ₹10 lakh payment, electronic evidence, communications and financial trail required further investigation. It therefore rejected his anticipatory bail application. Mumbai: The Sessions Court has denied anticipatory bail to builder Rajwinder Singh, proprietor of Rajlakshmi Companies, in an alleged extortion case linked to a Bandra redevelopment project. The court, however, observed that the material against Singh was not confined to a statement by a co-accused. The court held that investigators needed Singh’s custodial interrogation to trace the money trail, examine electronic evidence and identify other persons allegedly involved in the conspiracy.