Mumbai cops invoke stringent MCOCA charge against gangster Ashwin Naik

Mumbai: The city police on Tuesday evoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against gangster Ashwin Naik and his aides in a case of abduction and extortion.

"The accused were produced in the court and were remanded in further police custody till 2 January," said Special Public Prosecutor Dileep Shah, adding that MCOCA was invoked against them.

A total of eight people have been arrested in the case.

Representational image. Image courtesy: PTI

On 20 December, police arrested Naik and others on Bhawani Shankar Road in Dadar area when they allegedly came to collect extortion money of Rs 50 lakh from a local builder.

According to the police, Naik's aides had abducted the builder on December 9 at gun-point and took him to the gangster's office in Subhash Nagar area. Naik threatened the builder with dire consequences if he didn't pay Rs 50 lakh in cash and a 6000 sq ft premises in his upcoming project.

Naik had allegedly collected Rs 25 lakh from the same builder earlier this month.

On December 18, the builder approached Dadar police, after which a trap was laid and Naik and others were nabbed.

PTI