The Anti-Extortion Cell of the Mumbai police has officially closed a high-profile extortion case against gangster Guru Satam, citing that the likelihood of securing his extradition from South Africa remains extremely low. Satam, a former associate of the notorious gangster Chhota Rajan, originally hails from Parel and fled Mumbai in 1995. He is believed to be residing in South Africa.
Police Submission of 'A' Summary Report
The police submitted an 'A' summary report to the magistrate, which classifies the case as true but undetected. The crime branch has informed the court that if any new leads emerge in the future, it will seek fresh permission to continue the investigation. Currently, there are 32 serious criminal cases registered against Satam.
Background of the Extortion Complaint
In 2022, Mahim-based builder Kiran Patkar, a partner in RK Construction, filed a complaint regarding threatening phone calls from Satam demanding Rs 5 crore to allow work on a redevelopment project in Parel. Patkar alleged that between November 2021 and January 2022, he received multiple threatening calls on his mobile and office landline numbers from international numbers. The caller identified himself as Guru Satam and demanded flats in the redevelopment project along with extortion money.
Investigation Details
Following the complaint, the police registered an FIR against Satam at the Mahim police station, and the Anti-Extortion Cell took over the investigation. Patkar claimed the caller threatened him by referencing his alleged criminal history and warned that the redevelopment project would not proceed unless demands were met. Threatening WhatsApp messages were also sent from international numbers, including a South African number, questioning why calls were not being answered.
Police investigations revealed that several calls and IP addresses originated from South Africa. The Anti-Extortion Cell, through its Interpol cell, sent a request to South African authorities seeking details regarding a mobile number starting with +277. However, no response was received.
Closure Summary Report Findings
In the closure summary report, police officials stated that a considerable amount of time had passed since the offence was registered, and no fresh leads had emerged. They further noted that unless additional information is received from South African authorities regarding the Red Corner Notice or the international numbers used in the case, further progress in the investigation is unlikely.
This development marks a significant setback in efforts to bring Satam to justice, highlighting the challenges of cross-border criminal investigations.
