Cops arrest 3 of Machmach gang for extortion bid in Mumbai

MUMBAI: The Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) of Mumbai Police on Tuesday arrested three members of petty gangster Fahim Machmach’s gang who were trying to target a south Mumbai businessman for extortion. Fahim Machmach, a close associate of gangster Chhota Shakeel, joined the gang in the early ’90s and grew close to Shakeel. He fled to Dubai with those involved in the 1993 serial blasts case. He remained there for a few years.Acting on a tip-off, the AEC led by inspector Ajay Sawant and Sachin Kadam arrested Vinod Gaikwad, Fazlu Rahman Khan alias Mujju and Mohammed Yusuf Shah from Kanjurmarg and have recovered three country-made weapons from them.Police said the trio had been trailing the victim at the behest of Fahim Machmach. Police said they wanted to scare the victim and then demand extortion money. The businessman has been provided police cover.