Chhota Shakeel aide, bizman held for threatening Cong MLA

An alleged associate of underworld don Chhota Shakeel and a businessman were arrested under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act charges for allegedly threatening Congress Member of Legislative Assembly Baba Siddiqui over a property dispute, the police said in Mumbai.

Gangster Ahmed Langda and businessman Shams Sayyed were arrested under the stringent MCOCA charges on Monday from the city, Additional Police Commissioner (crime) Niket Kaushik told PTI.

The two were produced before an MCOCA court on Tuesday, which remanded them in police custody till July 11. Last week, the MLA had filed a written complaint that Sayyed used "underworld pressure" to help settle a property dispute, the police said.

The MLA claimed that the plot of land on Hill Road in suburban Bandra had been under dispute for a while with Sayyed, who had an agreement with Siddiqui to develop the property in partnership.

However, Sayyed later wanted Siddiqui to agree for certain conditions, but the MLA was not ready for the same. This led to a dispute. Ahmed Langda then conveyed threatening messages from Chhota Shakeel to Siddiqui and warned the MLA to settle the dispute amicably with Sayyed.

Siddiqui subsequently approached the cops and lodged a written complaint. Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's close aide Shakeel is also wanted in the case, police said adding that the trio were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 506(2) (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). l> /o:p>

Musharraf took over the government power in 1999 after deposing prime minister Nawaz Sharif and remained in power until 2008.