MUMBAI, JULY 23: Investigations into the arrest of five extortionists believed to be Akhil Bhartiya Sena (ABS) members reveal that one of the suspects is the son of a police constable. Thee quintet was arrested at Santacruz on Monday for threatening the managing director (MD) of an educational institute in the suburb.Among the suspects - Marian alias Louis Swami Chettiyar (31), Shyam Kumar Hiralal Gupta (29), Manoj Ramharan Gupta (23), Vilas Eknath Pankhe (33) and Mahesh Gawli (23) - the latter was found to be the son of constable Yeshwant Gawli, who lives in the Santacruz police lines.``What has surprised us is that Gawli is not only the son of a policeman but is probably linked to the ABS, which has criminal links,'' a senior police officer of the Santacruz police station told Express Newsline. Gawli has been arrested earlier for causing grievious hurt. ``We are yet to establish whether these men are actually members of ABS or they misused Mahesh's surname, `Gawli', to create terror,'' theofficer said.Police say the accused had demanded Rs 5 lakh from the complainant. Along with two others they had forced their way into his office on July 7 and threatened him.On July 11, one of the accused approached the complainant again and, identifying himself as an ABS member, told him to deliver the money to the party office at Byculla.However, after he was unable to locate the office, the complainant was threatened once again, on July 17 and 18. Finally, he approached the Anti-Extortion Cell (North West region) on July 19. Chettiyar was arrested when he went to the complainat's office to colect the money. Interrogationled to the arrest of his accomplices. All five are in the custody of the Santacruz police.
