Police looking for builder's partners who helped Ashwin Naik

Police claimed that two partners of the complainant (builder) would pass on information to Naik about cash being held by the victim on a regular basis following which the gangster extorted money from him.

Meanwhile, Naik, who was arrested yesterday in this case, was today produced before a local court which remanded him in police custody till June 14.

According to police, the complainant along with his businessman and architect friends had started a Slum Rehabilitation Authority construction project in 2005 in Dadar. The next year, the aides of Naik, who was in jail at that time, approached the victim and extorted Rs 30 lakh from him.

Once in 2007, the scared victim had to visit a jail where Naik was lodged, to meet the gangster as per his instructions and part with money.

In the subsequent years also, the victim continued to give money to him due to persistent threats.

According to police, whenever the victim made profit in his business, Naik's men would approach him demanding money.

The complainant had even transferred some money through net banking as well as cheques to Naik, they said.

In 2009, the victim suffered paralysis and when he returned in 2011 to his project, his partners told him that he did not have any share in the project, causing him to suffer a heart attack.

Till recently, the victim used to give money to Naik which has aggregated to about Rs 3 crore.

"The probe in this case indicated that it was the victim's two business partners, who were hand in glove with Naik and passed on the information. The duo is wanted in this case," said a police officer.

After reading news reports about a case of extortion registered against Naik, in which the gangster got an anticipatory bail, the victim garnered courage and complained to police explaining his case, resulting in the arrest of Naik.