A key Chhota Rajan aide, Vinod Chembur, was arrested in Pune today under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, a top police official said in Mumbai.
"He was arrested from Pune this evening by Unit VI of the Crime Branch in connection with the Sujata Nikhalje extortion case and has been booked under MCOCA," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Meeran Borwankar told PTI.
Chhota Rajan's wife Sujata was arrested with three other members of the gang for extorting money from city builders on December 14, 2006.
Vinod Chembur is a long-time associate of the Rajan gang and a bookie who used to bet on cricket matches.
"He was entrusted with investing the gang's money. A majority of the investments were made by him in bettings," Borwankar added.
The gang allegedly extorted money from builders involved in redevelopment of plots in Tilak Nagar and Naidu Colony of Ghatkopar, both in northeast Mumbai.
Sujata and the three other accomplices -- Suresh Shyamrao Shinde alias Don, Harvindersingh Bedi alias Kukku Daruwala and Rakesh Surve -- have also been booked under MCOCA.
