D.K. Rao |
Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch is set to investigate the financial transactions of D.K. Rao, a close aide of gangster Chhota Rajan, for allegedly accepting money from other accused in exchange for mediating in a hotel extortion case.
Additionally, WhatsApp voice notes found on the mobile phone of arrested accused Abubakar Siddiqui are being examined, and forensic analysis of voice samples from D.K. Rao and other accused will be conducted. Senior officials have confirmed the development.
The Crime Branch had arrested D.K. Rao (53), Abubakar Abdullah Siddiqui (37), Imran Kaleem Shaikh (31), Riyaz Kaleem Shaikh (40), Asif Sattan Khan alias Saif Darbar (36), Javed Jalaluddin Khan (35), and Hanif Ismail Naik alias Annu Bhai (53) on January 23 for allegedly demanding ₹2.5 crore extortion from a 74-year-old hotelier.
A case has been registered against them under Various sections of BNS, D.K. Rao, a known enforcer for Chhota Rajan, has a criminal record with 42 serious cases including extortion, murder, kidnapping, and robbery.
Investigators suspect that D.K. Rao was financially compensated by the accused for facilitating the extortion attempt. To verify this, the Crime Branch will scrutinize his financial transactions.
Moreover, WhatsApp voice notes recovered from Abubakar Siddiqui’s mobile suggest discussions between the accused regarding the takeover of the hotel. To establish evidence, the voice samples of D.K. Rao and other accused will be collected and matched with the voice recordings found in the case.
The entire conspiracy was orchestrated to illegally seize the hotel of the senior businessman. D.K. Rao allegedly issued death threats to the complainant and demanded ₹2.5 crore in extortion. The Crime Branch is conducting further investigations to gather more evidence in the case. All accused again remanded Police custody till February 1.
