The Thane Police Anti Extortion Cell on Thursday arrested a 54-year-old Borivali based businessman in connection with the extortion case against Iqbal Kaskar. The arrested accused, Pankaj Gangar, was picked up by the police from his residence at the Sodawala Lane in Borivali and was later placed under arrest.
Officers said that Gangar is a well-known face in the underworld and has a previous criminal record as well. He is known to be a financier for gangsters, including Iqbal Kaskar and Shakeel Babumiyan Sheikh alias Chhota Shakeel.
In 2008, Gangar was arrested by the Mumbai Police for allegedly providing financial aid to gangster turned politician Arun Gawli for the murder of Shiv Sena Corporator Kamalakar Jamsandekar.
Police Inspector Rajkumar Kothmi, Thane Anti-Extortion Cell, said, “Gangar provided ₹12 lakh to Chhota Shakeel through an agent known as R.C. Angadia who regularly sends money to Shakeel. Another accused is suspected to have been acting as a middlem an between Angadia and Shakeel.”
In the past, Gangar has been accused of providing financial aid to Gawli for the murder of Shiv Sena Corporator Kamalakar Jamsandekar in 2008. He was arrested in the case but later discharged, while Gawli was convicted under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Officers said that Gangar later distanced himself from Gawli and joined Chota Shakeel, financing him in his activities including cricket betting rackets.
“According to our inquiries, Gangar provided the money to buy firearms that were used to intimidate builders and jewellers in Thane. Two shooters used for this purpose are still wanted in the case. They hail from Patna and were in touch with Mumtaz Sheikh, who is already under arrest in the case,” said an officer with the Thane Crime Branch.
