Woman among two held on extortion charges

Mumbai, Jun 5 (UNI) Two people, including a woman, have been arrested by the police for allegedly threatening a building contractor and demanding Rs five lakh from him at Antop Hill here.

Ganesh Shankar Ingle (37) and Ms Periswami Chinhaswami Devendra (43) had allegedly demanded the sum from Raju Ramswami Devendra (51) and threatened that he would not be allowed to carry on construction work in the area unless he paid up.

The two were arrested on a complaint lodged by Raju Devendra who has bagged a contract under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority project at Antop Hill.

In yet another incident, the police are on the lookout of two people who had been harassing a businessman for Rs 20,000.

Police said Hasmukhbhai Rajlal Thakker (40), the businessman, had constructed a wall around his garment shop at Borivali to prevent rain water from entering the shop. However, the duo, one of them identified as Bipin Bhagdev, started pestering the businessman saying that the wall had been constructed illegally and they would complain to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in this regard unless Mr Thakkar paid up Rs 20,000.

UNI ST MAZ SB BST1331