Mumbai: The Sessions Court has denied anticipatory bail to builder Rajwinder Singh, proprietor of Rajlakshmi Companies, in an alleged extortion case linked to a Bandra redevelopment project.Mumbai Crime Branch opposed the bail, saying that the accused demanded ₹18 crore, and later settled at ₹11 crore, while threatening to obstruct redevelopment and involving members of Chhota Rajan gang.The case pertains to last month when the Anti-Extortion Cell arrested five persons, including a brother and sister, for allegedly trying to extort Rs 11 crore from a developer over a prime property in Bandra. Singh and one Remi Fernandes, who is allegedly connected with the Rajan gang, have been shown as absconding accused.Additional Sessions Judge PA Sable rejected Singh’s bail application after the prosecution said that Singh provided ₹10 lakh and subsequently sent men to the redevelopment site. Singh denied involvement, claiming he was falsely implicated due to a property dispute. The court noted video recordings, call records, mobile data and financial transactions indicating his alleged links with co-accused.The case was initially registered at Bandra police station and later transferred to the Anti-Extortion Cell of Mumbai Crime Branch. According to the prosecution, the complainant, a business head of a property company involved in redevelopment at Pereira Road, Bandra, alleged that the accused persons demanded ₹18 crore to stop obstructing the project, withdraw litigation and protect the company from alleged threats by the Rajan gang. The demand was subsequently allegedly settled at ₹11 crore.Singh’s lawyers argued that he had not personally demanded money or threatened the complainant and that he had been implicated because of a property dispute. They claimed he had entered into a bona fide transaction concerning the property and had himself complained to Charity Commissioner before his implication.The court, however, observed that the material against Singh was not confined to a statement by a co-accused. It noted that the alleged ₹10 lakh payment, electronic evidence, communications and financial trail required further investigation.The court held that investigators needed Singh’s custodial interrogation to trace the money trail, examine electronic evidence and identify other persons allegedly involved in the conspiracy. It therefore rejected his anticipatory bail application.
