MUMBAI: A businessman arrested by the Thane Crime Branch today in connection with an extortion case involving Iqbal Kaskar, brother of fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, had been sending Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh to gangster Chhota Shakeel per month, police said.
The businessman, Pankaj Gangar, used to transfer the money to Shakeel, a close aide of Dawood, through illegal hawala transactions, they said.
Shakeel’s role has also emerged in the extortion case and he has been named a wanted accused, the official said.
“Gangar was also involved in cricket betting and has links with ‘matka’ (gambling) syndicate,” Abhishek Trimukhe, Thane Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), said earlier in the day.
The 54-year-old businessman, a resident of suburban Borivali, was produced in a city court which sent him to police custody till October 5, he said.
“Our investigation about his role in the (extortion case) is underway,” the official said.
According to another official, Gangar used to finance and provide weapons and accommodation to shooters of the ‘D’ (Dawood) gang who were part of the extortion racket. (AGENCIES)
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