Bawana used 'Whatsapp' to stay in touch with associates:Police

Social networking application 'Whatsapp' was the mode of communication used by alleged gangster Neeraj Bawana to stay in touch with members of his crime syndicate, Delhi Police has told a court here.
In a charge sheet filed against Bawana and nine others, including ex-MLA Rambeer Shokeen, Special Cell of Delhi Police said Bawana has disclosed in his disclosure statement that his syndicate was involved in extortion of money from businessmen and other crimes.
"I used to remain in touch with my associates through Whatsapp, mobile phone etc and running this syndicate by doing unchecked extortion from businessmen of Delhi and other cities," Bawana has said in his disclosure statement which has been filed in the court along with the charge sheet.

Bawana said he and his associates, including his maternal uncle Rambeer Shokeen, who is absconding, were "close members" of the crime syndicate.
He also told the police that he remained in touch through Whatsapp with his gang members, who had rescued his associate Amit Malik alias Bhura from the custody of Uttarakhand police in December last year.
"On December 15, 2014, I successfully orchestrated the escape of Amit Bhura from custody of Uttarakhand Police while he was (being) brought to Baghpat, UP for appearance in a court," he said.

"I was in touch with my gang members through Whatsapp. My associates rescued Amit Bhura from the custody of Uttarakhand Police and snatched two AK-47 and one SLR rifle from police," he said.

In its charge sheet, the police has accused Bawana and others of running an organised crime syndicate in Delhi-NCR region and alleged that Shokeen was its "political face" as he was found using the clout of these criminals to contest MLA election to "further his political ambitions and gaining pecuniary benefits".
Besides Bawana and Shokeen, the police has chargesheeted Neeraj's elder brother Pankaj Sehrawat and other arrested members of the syndicate -- Sunil Rathi, Amit Malik alias Bhura, Naveen Dabas, Rahul Dabas, Naveen Hooda, Deepak Dabas and Gurpreet Singh.
The police chargesheeted them for the alleged offences punishable under the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).