Mumbai businessmen along with Dawood Ibrahim’s nephew have been acquitted in an extortion case. The case, which involved allegations of extortion and criminal conspiracy, saw the accused being cleared of all charges due to lack of substantial evidence
Mumbai: Today(12 April): A Mumbai special court acquitted two local businessmen and Rizwan Kaskar, the nephew of underworld fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, in a high-profile extortion case.
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Background:
The case revolved around allegations of extortion leveled against businessmen Ahmedraja Afroz Vadhariya and Ashfaq Towelvala from the Dongri area, alongside Rizwan Kaskar, who is associated with Dawood Ibrahim’s criminal network. The prosecution’s claim was based on the account of an informant, a builder engaged in import-export activities, who had a business relationship with Towelvala.
According to the informant, Towelvala owed him a sum of Rs 15.5 lakh, which he allegedly failed to pay. Subsequently, on June 12, 2019, the informant received an international phone call, purportedly from Fahim Machmach, a Karachi-based gangster representing Chhota Shakeel, a member of Dawood Ibrahim’s gang. Machmach, who was listed as a wanted accused in the case, allegedly threatened the informant, warning him against demanding money from Towelvala or Vadhariya.
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The prosecution claimed that Vadhariya, who was acquainted with Rizwan Kaskar, sought assistance from Dawood Ibrahim’s nephew to establish contact with the underworld network in Pakistan. The day after the threatening phone call, Vadhariya allegedly contacted the informant and reiterated the threats made by Machmach.
Following the incidents, the three accused were arrested, while Machmach and others were marked as wanted accused in the case. Regrettably, Machmach reportedly succumbed to COVID-19 in Karachi in 2021. During the trial, the prosecution presented call data records (CDR) as evidence to substantiate the claims that the informant was being threatened. Additionally, the case was filed under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA).
After hearing the both side, the special judge delivered the verdict of acquittal, stating that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the court ordered the release of the businessmen and Rizwan Kaskar, bringing an end to their five-year ordeal.
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