Extortion bid in Abu Salem's name

A man who tried to extort Rs 15 lakh from Ramesh Taurani, chairman, TIPS Music, by posing as an Abu Salem henchman was arrested on Tuesday.

According to the Mumbai police, Rajesh Ojha, a small time criminal from Kalyan in Thane district, used to call the TIPS office regularly seeking to contact Taurani.

He claimed that he needed Rs 15 lakh to make 'better' arrangements for Salem in Indian prisons, whenever he was extradited to India.

But Ojha could get only as far as a security officer at TIPS.

To the officer, he identified himself as Sunil, aka Sawtya, a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim who was killed by the Chhota Rajan gang in Dubai a few years ago.

"Ojha told TIPS he had survived the attack in Dubai and that it was Abu Salem who had saved him. He claimed he was returning the favour," a police officer said.

As the number of calls from Ojha increased, TIPS lodged a complaint with the police. The police, following preliminary investigation, suggested that TIPS agree to Ojha's demand.

Accordingly, the security officers asked Ojha to collect the money at Madhu Park, in suburban Khar. The police arrested Ojha when he showed up.

He will be in custody till February 15.

Taurani was alleged to have paid Rs 25 lakh to Salem to kill rival music produce Gulshan Kumar in 1997. A Mumbai sessions court later found him not guilty.