ED raids multiple locations in extortion case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at multiple locations in Mumbai, in connection with a case registered against an extortion case accused Hiren Bhagat alias Romi Bhagat, along with some others. The probe agency also raided premises linked to one prominent Chartered Accountant, identified as Rajesh Chaturvedi.
The Enforcement Directorate had begun investigations into the case after a Mumbai-based promoter of a construction company was threatened with extortion, wherein the accused used the probe agency’s name and attempted to extort Rs 164 crores from the man. In February this year, six people were arrested by the crime branch of the Mumbai Police on charges of threatening the promoter.

The accused were identified as Hiren Ramesh Bhagat, Amey Savekar, Rajendra Shirsat, Rakesh Kediya, Kalpesh Bhosle and Avnish Dubey. Later, Romi Bhagat, who claimed to be a liaison, was produced before a court. Bhagat was also accused of extorting Rs 12 crore from the family of Cox and Kings promoter, Peter Kerkar, at the behest of getting him relief from the probe agency. Kerkar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2022.
According to a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the promoters of Omkar Developers, they were threatened by the accused persons during a meeting in Mumbai. The promoters also alleged they were asked to pay Rs 164 crore or cases would be filed against them with the Enforcement Directorate and the Economics Offences Wing of Mumbai Police. The accused threatened the promoters of Omkar Developers at the behest of one Satish Dhanuka of Dhanuka Developers, the FIR stated.

The complainant told the police about a Memorandum of Understanding signed between both companies in 2008, aimed at working for the development of a Bandra-based housing society. However, the MoU was cancelled in 2009 after Dhanuka Developers allegedly did not fulfill the conditions for the development work. Further, the rights of development of the housing society were handed over to Omkar Developers, who also paid Rs 8.10 crore to Dhanuka Developers as expense charges.