Case against MLA Nitesh Rane for 'extortion', he denies charge

Mumbai police have registered a case against the MLA Nitesh Rane, the son of Congress leader Narayan Rane, and two others for allegedly extorting money from a restaurant owner in suburban Juhu.
Moin Shaikh (36) and Mohammed Ansari (36), said to be Rane's associates, allegedly created ruckus at Estela Restaurant on Juhu Tara road, ransacked it and forced the staff to close it for failing to pay Rs 10 lakh on May 18, said Santa Cruz police.
Police registered a case of extortion against Nitesh Rane, Shaikh and Ansari on the complaint of the restaurant owner Hitesh Keswani.
Keswani claimed that he and his partner had already paid Nitesh Rs 50 lakh in instalments of Rs 10 lakh a month.

While Shaikh and Ansari were arrested yesterday, Nitesh Rane was not arrested yet as the investigation was underway, police said today.
Meanwhile, Nitesh claimed that he had complained against the restaurant for noise pollution.

"We had filed a complaint against the restaurant for playing loud music....We live in Sea Bridge society and the restaurant is next to our building. Several residents approached my father requesting him to look into this. Hence we wrote a letter to authorities, and now the restaurant has filed a false complaint against me," he said.
The restaurant has permission to play music till 1.30 am but it plays music till 5 in the morning, Nitesh alleged.

"When my father, a former Chief Minister, writes a letter about civic issues to municipal commissioner, local police officers and the city police commissioner, why it was not taken seriously?" he asked, speaking to reporters.