The Navsari police booked seven persons, including six members of a family, and arrested four of them on Tuesday in a first case lodged under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GUJCTOC) Act in the district. This is the first time in the state that six members of a family has been booked under GUJCTOC. Navsari district SP Saurabh Agrawal said, “This is the first GUJCTOC lodged in Navsari, in which six members of a family have been accused of being involved in an organised crime network.” He added that the main accused in this case is Asim Shaikh, who is at present in Navsari jail for his involvement in a case of kidnapping and rape case. The other accused are Asim’s father Nizam Shaikh, his brothers – Naeem, Nadim, Saddam and Nigam – and another gang member, Arbazali Saiyed. Nizam and his sons Nadim, Naeem and Nigam, have been arrested. The police said that a complaint was filed on October 8 against the gang members under sections of IPC and the GUJCTOC Act at Khergam police station. Agrawal said, “The gang was led by Asim Shaikh, who was operating a crime syndicate with his family members. Cases of bootlegging, creating fear, kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, attempt to murder, robbery and rape, among others, are registered against this gang at Navsari, Chikhli, Khergam Valsad, Surat and Himmatnagar.” Agrawal said a special investigation team has been set up to probe the matter. DSP N P Gohil said, “We have arrested four accused and are looking for the frest. In the coming days, we will seek custody of Asim Shaikh from Navsari jail.”
