Status: Not ApprovedHEAD: 24_Mum_VVS_BishnoiByline: Vijay V SinghVijayV.SinghMumbai: Congress MLA from Akola West Sajid Khan Pathan, among the poorest MLAs in the state with total assets of around Rs 10 lakh, received an extortion call for Rs 10 crore from Bishnoi gang members. The issue was raised in the Assembly on Tuesday by Congress Legislature Party Leader Vijay Wadettiwar.Pathan filed an FIR with the cyber police and appreciated support of the chief minister, but he expressed disappointment because he was not allowed to speak about it in the Assembly on Tuesday. Sajid said it was a serious law and order concern, as an MLA was receiving a threat call, and he wanted to discuss the issue in the house.Wadettiwar stated that if elected representatives were not safe in the state, what about ordinary citizens?, he further added that threat from a gang previously involved in firing incidents was an extremely serious matter. The Speaker of the Assembly directed the govt to treat the matter with the utmost seriousness and take immediate steps to ensure appropriate security for Sajid.According to the audio clip shared by Sajid, the caller identified himself as Shubham Lonkar of the Bishnoi gang and threatened him with consequences similar to Baba Siddhiqui (ex-minister killed in Bandra by the Bishnoi gang) if he fails to pay the extortion demand. While Sajid tried to convince the caller that he might be calling the wrong person, as he was not financially sound and was not involved in any wrong business. But the caller refused to change his mind and after naming the places Sajid visits, told Sajid that he knew all his activities and could target him anywhere, and insisted on the extortion money.Sajid said, “I may be the poorest MLA in the state. I wonder why he called me with such an extortion demand. I am working for the expansion of my Congress party in the area; he may be trying to target me for that.” MSID:: 128754645 413 |
