Actor held for blackmailing MLA

The Colaba police has arrested a man for threatening and blackmailing an MLA from Nandurbar district.

The accused, identified as Krishnakumar Satishkumar (34), is a small-time actor and a resident of Oshiwara. He had allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh from the Nandurbar MLA to not make public an incriminating video that he allegedly had in his possession. The police however did not disclose the name of the MLA.

Police sources said the actor was in huge debt and had resorted to blackmail to make a quick buck. He allegedly told the politician that he had a video of a sting operation conducted on him and threatened to leaking it to TV channels if he did not pay up.

He allegedly made the first call to the MLA in October 2015 after he got the politico’s personal mobile number. At that time, the MLA was in Mumbai to attend the Assembly session and was put up in the MLA hostel located at Colaba Causeway.

Sources said the MLA received a call from Kumar who informed him that he had a video showing the politician taking a bribe from a person.

The police had difficulty tracing the accused since he was no longer using the mobile number with which had made the initial calls.

Keeping in mind the seriousness of the situation, the MLA’s personal assistant approached the police and lodged a complaint about the same with the Colaba police station.

“After making about two to three calls, the accused changed his number. We gathered details of the user from his previous number and following a tip traced him to Oshiwara,” said Vinay Gadgil, senior inspector of Colaba police station.

Sources said that the police had to get in touch with people he had contacted from his previous number, to confirm his identity and current whereabouts. Preliminary probe has revealed that the accused was in dire need of money and hence he played the trick. He was allegedly convinced that the politician would be scared of the video and also public shaming and would be willing to pay the said amount.

The police is still trying to ascertain why he targeted the said MLA and whether he had any past enmity against him.

The accused has been remanded in police custody for further probe.