MH-SATAM GANG ARREST

A member of the Guru Satam gang

who allegedly ran `hawala' business in Hong Kong was arrested

by the Mumbai police's Crime Branch from Kerala Wednesday, an

official said.

Krishnakumar Balakrishnan Nair alias Kevin (46) was

arrested by the Anti Extortion Cell of the Crime Branch from

Thiruvananthapuram, his hometown, the official said.

Kevin had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram Sunday

(January 6) from Hong Kong to meet his family, he said.

He was wanted in an extortion case where Amol Vichare,

Bharat Solanki, Rajesh Ambre, Bipin Dhotre and Dipak

Lodhiahad already been arrested, the official said.

All five were members of the Guru Satam gang, the

police official added.

They had allegedly threatened a builder who has

construction projects in Parel in Central Mumbai, asking him

to cough up `protection money', he said.

During their interrogation, Kevin's role came to

light, he said.

It was Kevin who allegedly sent, through `hawala', the

proceeds of extortion to Guru Satam who is believed to be

living overseas.

After finding out that Kevin was living in Hong Kong,

a look-out notice had been issued against him, the official

said.

Following a tip-off that Kevin was visiting his

hometown using a different passport, a Crime Branch team went

to Kerala and nabbed him, he said.

A special court for the Maharashtra Control of

Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) sent him in police custody till

January 16, the official said, adding that further probe was

underway.