Baba Gude aide arrested on extortion charge

The Mahim police have arrested an alleged aide of Pradeep alias Baba Gude (a history-sheeter of Ashwin Naik gang) on charges of extortion. Builder Uday Desai had lodged a complaint with Mahim police last week claiming he was being threatened by Gude and his aides to hand over money if he wanted to continue with his construction in Mahim. The police arrested Rajendra Rao (43) alias Hatela who was allegedly threatening Desai. The police had nabbed Rao from Mahim but and are interrogating him on Gude’s whereabouts.

“While Desai had been contemplating construction at a plot at Patilwadi on Bhagat lane since last year,the construction had begun a few months back after he got the necessary permission. However,a few days after the construction began,Rao threatened to kill Desai if he didn’t give a few lakhs to Gude. Desai did not pay any heed to the threats till he received a call,allegedly from Gude,” said police inspector Vinay Kulkarni of the Mahim police station.