The Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Mumbai Crime Branch have arrested 53-year-old Tariq Parveen, a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim in connection with gangster Ejaz Lakdawala’s extortion syndicate. The AEC has also registered a fresh case against Lakdawala for allegedly threatening a South Mumbai-based businessman since 2013 and have mentioned the name of Parveen, a top police informer Saleem Maharaj and another arrested accused in the FIR for facilitating the extortion racket and providing information to the gangster.
According to the Crime Branch, Tariq, who was also closely associated with Chhota Shakeel was also working for Lakdawala’s extortion syndicate. Confirming his arrest, Joint Commissioner of Crime Branch Santosh Rastogi said, “During the investigation, some crucial information and evidence against Parveen surfaced. Based on the same, a FIR was registered and he was arrested.
According to Crime Branch sources, Parveen and Maharaj facilitated the extortion racket by providing details of businessmen and builders to Lakdawala. “After getting calls from the gangster, the complainants would meet Parveen and Maharaj for a settlement. The duo would then pass on the information to the gangster,” an officer said.
In another case, 2013-14, the gangster made a Rs. 2 crore ransom call to a South Mumbai-based businessmen who then reached out to Parveen and Maharaj. The duo then assured him of a settlement with the gangster. “Parveen took 3 lakh from the businessman for a settlement. Even after the complainant paid the money, the gangster kept threatening him for more. Then again, he paid both the accused some more money,” the officer added.
Earlier the Thane Anti-Extortion Cell had arrested Parveen in 2018 for murdering a 20- year-old Mumbra-based cable operator.
