The trio were booked in 2019 for allegedly threatening builders (File)

Mumbai:

A special court in Mumbai on Friday acquitted fugitive Don Dawood Ibrahim’s nephew and two others in a 2019 extortion case under strict Maharashtra Criminalized under the Organized Crime Control Act (MCOCA).

Special Judge BD Shelke sentenced the gangster’s nephew Mohammed Rizwan Shaikh Ibrahim (Kaskar), Ahmedraja Vadhariya and Ashfaq Towelwala under Section 387 (causing a person in fear of death or grievous hurt to commit extortion), Section 120 (criminal conspiracy) and related sections Not guilty of charges under MCOCA.

In 2019, a case was booked against the trio for allegedly threatening a builder.

The builder, who is also in the business of importing electronic goods, claimed that his business partner owed him Rs 15 lakh and in June 2019, he received an international call from gang member Fahim Machmach on behalf of gang Chhota Shakeel asking him not to insist on payment.

The prosecution argued that sufficient material had been found against all the defendants, particularly phone recordings and CDRs.

Tovilwala also issued a confession statement disclosing the crimes he and the remaining defendants committed, the report said.

According to the prosecution, Dawood’s nephew Rizwan and other accused who were influenced by him threatened the builders to waive their dues.

Shakir and Mahmakh are listed as wanted accused in the case and the court has directed the police to file separate charges against them.

The prosecution questioned 23 witnesses during the trial and presented electronic evidence to the court.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)