Dawood gang member held for threatening ex-scribe over auction

Mumbai, Jan 2: The crime branch on Friday arrested a gangster affiliated with Dawood Ibrahim gang for allegedly threatening a former journalist who had put in a bid to acquire one of the properties of the fugitive terrorist. Sayyed Abbas Tublani (47) was arrested by the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the crime branch, they said.

The journalist-turned-activist S Balakrishnan had earlier complained to police of being threatened by Dawood's henchman Chhota Shakeel in run up to the auction held in December last. He had also received a threatening sms from the gangster, police said.

Balakrishnan, however, went ahead with his plan and eventually won the bid to acquire hotel Rounaq Afroz at Bhendi Bazar area on Pakmodia Street in South Mumbai for Rs 4.27 crore.

"In this regard, the complainant, who is the chairman of an NGO through which he had bid the property, is making efforts to collect funds through his NGO," said Vinayak Vast, in-charge of AEC. Without taking Balakrishnan's name, he said the complainant has also applied for extending deadline to deposit the amount.

Tublani was booked under various sections of IPC for criminal intimidation and hatching a criminal conspiracy. Police also recovered two mobile phones and some SIM cards which were alleged used by Tublani to talk with the fugitive gangster.

PTI