Extortion case: Iqbal Kaskar, two others sent to police custody for eight days

The Thane Court on Tuesday sent underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's brother Iqbal Kaskar and two others to police custody for eight days in connection with an extortion case.

Police sought custody of all three accused in involvement of collecting evidence, identification of other co-accused involved, collection of their voice samples, recovery of arms and ammunition.

Speaking to the reporters, Iqbal Kaskar's lawyer Shyam Keswani opposed police custody by saying that "they were surrounded by at least 50 police personnel at his sisters' residence while they did not possess any knife or even a single pin. Rights of a prisoner have been violated in this case, the way he was picked up from his house; also his lawyer was not allowed to meet him. I demand he should not be given police custody".

"The guidelines of Supreme Court in several reported judgments have been violated by police in this case. Also, the remand should not be given for more than three to four days. I demand some medications be allowed to Iqbal as he is a patient of blood pressure and some other ailments. He also should be allowed for two pair of fresh clothes in police custody," he said.

Iqbal Kaskar was arrested on Monday on the charges of extortion. The police said that they are investigating whether underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was involved personally in his brother's extortion rackets or not.

"Whether Dawood Ibrahim had an indirect or a direct involvement in this extortion racket run by Iqbal Kaskar will be probed," Param Bir Singh, the Police Commissioner of Thane, said.

Iqbal Kaskar used to issue threats in the name of his brother, Dawood Ibrahim, the police said today.

The police are also investigating if there is involvement of any politicians or corporators in the extortion rackets.

The Thane anti-extortion cell (AEC) apprehended younger brother of wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim.

According to reports, Iqbal Kaskar was arrested by former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma following charges of extortion.

Reportedly, Kaskar was nabbed against a complaint given by a builder who was facing extortion threats since 2013.

Besides Kaskar, two others, namely Israr All Jamil Sayyad and Mumtaz Eizaz Shaikh, were also arrested.

The builder was under huge debt post demonetisation and hence, decided to reach out to the police for help.

Reportedly, Kaskar had been threatening builders on behalf of Dawood and was demanding huge extortion money.

The builder was taken into confidence and a complaint of extortion vide under Section 384, 386, 387, 34 was registered at Kasarvadavali Police Station.

Four flats worth Rs. 5 crores in Rosa Bella society and 30 lakhs cash amount were extorted by the gang of lqbal Kaskar from the builder.

The calls for extortion were given to the builder when he purchased a plot in Thane.