Police books Gawli aides under MCOCA

Mumbai, Apr 15 (UNI) Police today booked two associates of gangster-turned-poltiician Arun Gawli under MCOCA for allegedly trying to extort money from a builder.

Special Public Prosecutor Rohini Salian today said that Sadanand Panchal and Raja Khadvilkar have been booked under Maharashtra Control for Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for demanding Rs 18 lakh from builder Mohammed Shakeel Qureshi in November last year.

Gawli's 'right hand' and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) councillor Sunil Ghate is already in judicial custody in connection with the case, while Panchal and Khadvilkar were arrested on April 6 by the Crime Branch. They are in police custody till April 19.

Qureshi had registered a complaint with Agripada police in November last that Gawli's aides had demanded money to allow him to run his construction business in the area.

Fearing his arrest in connection with the case, Gawli had moved an anticipatory bail plea in a sessions court, which he was granted.

Later, police challenged the bail order in Bombay High Court which had directed the sessions court to assign a court for a re-hearing on Gawli's bail plea. It will be heard in sessions court on April 18.

UNI ST GK VD KP1534