Six-member extortion gang arrested

Bangalore, Mar 21 (UNI) Police have arrested a six-member extortion gang, which demanded money from a Film Director for protecting him as there was a ''threat to his life''.

Talking to newspersons here today, city Police Commissioner Neelam Acyutha Rao said the gang used to call rich business people and demand money to safeguard them, claiming that underworld dons have collected 'supari' for killing them.

He said the gang had telephoned Film Director and Real Estate developer B M Govardhan and demanded Rs five crore as three people had collected a ransom of Rs one crore for murdering him. When Mr Govardhan refused to part with the money, he was forcibly taken to a house in a remote area and released only after he agreed to pay the amount.

However, police, on getting a clue, swung into action and succeeded in arresting the gang members. They also recovered 22 revolvers, six live bullets and mobile phones from them.

UNI