Mumbai police have registered a first information report (FIR) against an unidentified person who allegedly demanded Rs 3 crore from the son of Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik to get the latter out on bail, an official said on Thursday.
Nationalist Congress Party leader Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last month in a money laundering case.
Following a complaint filed by the minister's son Amir Malik, the V B Nagar police registered the FIR late Wednesday night, he said.
According to the complainant, he received an email in which the sender, who identified himself as Imtiyaaz, allegedly said he will try to get NCP leader Nawab Malik out on bail and demanded Rs 3 crore in Bitcoins.
"I have lodged the FIR, but can't share more about it as it is a confidential matter," Amir Malik told PTI.
A senior police official said, "We have registered the FIR under various Indian Penal Code sections, including 419 (punishment for cheating by personation), 420 (cheating), and provisions of the IT Act. Further investigation is underway."
Nawab Malik was arrested by the ED on February 23 this year under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) over a property deal allegedly linked to the aides of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.
He is currently in judicial custody and lodged at the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai.
Will fight and win, won't bow down: Nawab Malik
Nawab Malik has links with underworld: Fadnavis
Sameer and Malik Encounter The Law
Who is Sameer Wankhede, really?
Now, Nawab Malik to expose Fadnavis' 'underworld link'