2 held for attempting to extort money from bizman in Mumbai

Two youths were arrested for allegedly attempting to extort money from a businessman using modus operandi from a popular TV show, police said today.
Crime branch officials said the victim, who is into import and export business, approached the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) in November with a complaint that he was receiving text messages from a unknown number.
The SMSes also mentioned about a CBI raid that had taken place at his office in the mid-October. The complainant further said them that an unknown person threatened to expose his business dealings to the authorities if he doesn't give him Rs 2 crore, the official said.

Following which the AEC started co-ordinating with the businessman to trap the person.
Unaware of main accused Santosh's intention, the businessman's peon, who frequents an eatery run by father of the accused, had told him about CBI raid at victim's office, the officer said.
Sanotsh then dug out various other details of the complainant business and meanwhile, the prime accused who watches a popular TV show on crime regularly, had learnt from it that he will be tracked down, if he used his mobile, the officer said.

Thus, Santosh bought a second hand mobile from South Mumbai market and luckily, found an abandoned SIM near Ghatkopar railway station.

Using this number, he started texting the victim. Santosh had also downloaded pictures of arms, ammunition and drug from various websites as well as picture of victim's father from social networking site Facebook.
Santosh then compiled them into a pen drive and sent them to businessman to allegedly terrorise him. He engaged one of his friends, Sushant to make the threat calls.
As per their plan, a 16-year-old boy, was sent yesterday (to the businessman) to collect the money, but the sleuths intercepted the boy, who revealed the names of the accused, he added.
The duo, residents of suburban Ghatkopar, was then arrested yesterday and a case under section 387 (extortion) of IPC was registered at the Parkside police station, he said.

During initial investigation, Santosh revealed that his father was suffering from back problem and needed Rs 5 lakh for the operation and hence he hatched the plan to extort money from the businessman, the official said, investigations are underway.