Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, his wife Soni Razdan and his daughter and famous actress Alia Bhatt received death threats from an extortionist demanding Rs5 million from him.
The alleged extortionist threatened to pump bullets into Bhatt’s family members on failure to give him his desired money.
Special task force and Mumbai crime branch of the Uttar Pradesh state police moved into action and arrested the suspect Sandeep Sahu.
Investigation is underway from the suspect who was arrested by tracing him through his mobile number and the bank account details he gave to transfer money into.
A senior official told the local media, “The accused messaged his account details. We managed to track him through his mobile phone number. He is in custody.”
Mahesh Bhatt also tweeted, “A bolt from the blue in the form of an extortion call & threat to my family was nipped in the bud by the MH & UP police in tandem. Gratitude!”
A bolt from the blue in the form of an extortion call & threat to my family was nipped in the bud by the MH & UP police in tandem.Gratitude!
— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) March 2, 2017
The local media sources said Bhatt had registered a complaint at the Juhu police station police station on Wednesday after he received a threatening call at around midnight on February 26.
Complaint filed in Juhu Police Station after Mahesh Bhatt receives extortion call,caller also threatened to kill Soni Razdan and Alia Bhatt pic.twitter.com/q8UaCbQTmh
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 2, 2017
The movie producer initially dismissed the call as a prank, but after getting WhatsApp message from the person who claimed to be a gang leader he approached police.
“If you fail to do so, I will fire several rounds of bullets in your daughter Alia and wife Soni,” the message read.
#UPDATE Mahesh Bhatt case: Anti Extortion Cell of Mumbai Police with help of UP STF have identified the culprit and detained him
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 2, 2017
Remember, you are dust and unto dust you shall return . – Ash Wednesday
— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) March 1, 2017
