Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials arrested 10 more associates of slain gangster Nayeem from Bhongir and Nalgonda town on Tuesday.
One of the four held from Bhongir, Kathula Jangaiah was involved in extorting Rs. 50 lakh from a local businessman Ganpaa Nagendra. Nayeem initially demanded Rs.2 crore from the businessman but eventually reduced the sum to Rs. 50 lakh.
A week ago, Mr. Nagendra approached the Bhongir police and lodged a complaint explaining how Nayeem’s men approached him first and demanded money threatening to kill him and his family members. The complainant stated that he had recorded mobile phone conversations made with ruling party MLC Nethi Vidyasagar and Nayeem.
Criminal caseThe conversation with Nayeem, somehow, got leaked and was aired by TV news channels. This was the first criminal case in which a public representative’s name cropped up. Mr. Nagendra maintained that the MLC had called up his neighbour and through the latter directed him to keep his mobile phone switched on stating Nayeem wanted to speak with him.
Jangaiah was the second person to be arrested in the case. Already, the gangster’s trusted aide Pasham Srinivas was nabbed in the case by invoking Preventive Detention Act case. Along with Jangaiah, Puli Nagaraju, Gurram Shivaraju and Bachu Nagaraju were held on Tuesday.
The quartet was accused of involvement in three cases of kidnap, extortion and forcible transfer of properties. They were charged with extorting Rs.1 crore from a Non-Resident Indian and businessman Nagendra.
ExtortionsSix others, Sayed Ansarullah Gauri pursuing medical lab technician course, Syed Azas, an ambulance driver, Mohammed Zabiuddin Sayeq, Shaik Abdullah, Mohammed Tabrez and fruit vendor Mohammed Mubin were held from Nalgonda town. They were involved in four cases of extorting money at gunpoint and another case of attempt to murder, the SIT officials said.
So far, 39 cases were registered against Nayeem and his gang in the State.
