Mumbai: Extortionist sent to judicial custody for 14 days

Hiren Bhagat. File pic

Hiren Bhagat, also known as Romi Bhagat, who was arrested in a Rs 164 crore extortion case, has been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. The crime branch requested an additional day of custody, but the court declined, stating that the investigating unit, Crime Branch Unit 09, has sufficient time to interrogate him. Advocate Jugal Kanani, representing Bhagat, said, "The police sought an extra day for interrogation, citing some accused still being at large."

Bhagat, along with five other accused, are accused in a Rs 164 crore extortion case involving a builder, who paid only Rs 25 lakh.

Previously, on February 6, in its remand application, the crime branch mentioned that during searches at Bhagat's premises, they discovered documents, including complaints under investigation by EOW and ED and confidential documents from corporate companies. They are investigating how Bhagat obtained these documents and suspect that he used them for extortion.

Although a mid-day report on February 6 cited sources claiming crime branch found over 200 ED case documents with the gang, this was not mentioned in the official remand application. Instead, it was stated that a trolley bag found at Bhagat's residence was filled with confidential documents of ED and EOW and corporates and sale deeds, agreements and FIRs.