Charges framed against Salem henchmen

NEW DELHI: The chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM) on Saturday framed charges against three alleged henchmen of Dubai-based underworld don Abu Salem for allegedly trying to extort crores of rupees from a businessman in Delhi.
Finding prima facie evidence against the accused, Isthiaq, C P Rai and Sadiq Ali, CMM K S Pal charged them with criminal intimidation.
Rajat Najrath, the businessman, had alleged last year that he got several calls on his mobile from someone who identified himself as Thakur and claimed to be Salem’s hitman. He demanded money from Najrath.
Thakur then allegedly gave Rajat another mobile number and asked him to contact Salem. Though Rajat ignored the calls initially, he feared for his life when Thakur threatened him with dire consequences if he did not pay up. This year, after Rajat fixed a meeting with the three accused at his factory, the special cell laid a trap and arrested the three. Locally-made pistols, revolvers and live cartidges were found from their possession.
Salem’s hitmen had reportedly also threatened to kill another businessman, Puneet Khanna, if he did not pay them.