Extortion racket probe: Nashik link emerges, cops to question Iqbal Kaskar kin

“During interrogation, Kaskar told us that he would frequently go to Nashik to meet Kokani. The wives of Kokani and Kaskar are sisters. Also, Kaskar’s son is married to Kokani’s elder daughter,” said a senior officer linked to the probe.

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Iqbal Kaskar was arrested earlier this week. (Source: Express Photo)

The Thane police will be questioning Jaggi Kokani, a Nashik-based relative of Iqbal Kaskar, in connection with the extortion racket in which the latter has been arrested. The police are probing if Kaskar, with help from Kokani, was running a Thane-like racket in Nashik too.

“Kokani is a well-known name in Nashik and has faced allegations of being involved in betting,” said an officer probing the extortion case. In fact, the presence of Maharashtra Irrigation Minister Girish Mahajan at the wedding of Kokani’s younger daughter in May had stoked a major controversy.

“During interrogation, Kaskar told us that he would frequently go to Nashik to meet Kokani. The wives of Kokani and Kaskar are sisters. Also, Kaskar’s son is married to Kokani’s elder daughter,” said a senior officer linked to the probe. Another officer said: “We will be verifying if like Thane, a similar racket of extortion was going on in Nashik as well, given the frequency of Kaskar’s visits. Our officers will be questioning Kokani.”

During investigation, the police said, names of four to five people with apparent links to the racket had come to the fore. “We are on the lookout for these people and they will be soon placed under arrest. They are mostly connected to the gang and have a past criminal record,” said the officer. The Thane police have so far registered two FIRs against Kaskar and two of his aides on charges of extorting builders.

The police said Kaskar’s aides would look for villagers owning big tracts of land. Kaskar would tell the villagers that the rates at which they were selling land were not profitable. They would then pay off the villagers and strike a deal with builders. If a builder did not agree to their terms, they would threaten him and extort flats out of him. The police believe the racket had been active at least since 2013.

Mohamed Thaver

Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems. Experience & Authority Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field. Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus. Key Beats: Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch. Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force. Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict. Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations. Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed. Credentials & Trustworthiness Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order. He tweets @thaver_mohamed ... Read More

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