How Chhota Rajan's man ran his extortion racket from Karnataka jail

Anti-Extortion Cell says he used a woman aide and a BMC employee in Mumbai to identify targets whom he could threaten for extortion

The Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Mumbai Crime Branch, which recently arrested convicted gangster Yusuf Suleiman Kadri alias Yusuf Bachkana, has found that he was running an extortion racket from different prisons in Karnataka. Once the right-hand man of gangster Chhota Rajan, Bachkana was using internationally-made software to make virtual calls from jail. These calls are difficult to trace and getting their details from the software developers involves a long process. 

Last month, after his custody was secured from Bellary prison in Karnataka, he was brought to Mumbai in connection with extortion calls made to a builder in Ghatkopar for Rs 50 lakh. The calls were made using international software. The builder was also sent the link to a news story about Bachkana’s previous crimes.

“The builder complained in May. With technical support, the team investigated and verified the details and it was found that he was using a virtual network to make calls. This made an international number appear on the builder’s phone. After confirming that the calls were made from inside the prison itself, we took his custody and investigated the matter under MCOCA,” said Yogesh Chavan, police inspector, AEC.

Accomplices got contacts

The AEC also found the involvement of a woman gangster and a BMC employee who provided the details and contact numbers of businessmen and builders to Bachkana. The woman has been identified as Habiba Khan, who was married to the late criminal Malyabhai. The BMC employee has been identified as Prakash Korve, a native of Karnataka. He came in touch with Bachkana in 2016 through a common friend and had the contacts of all Bachkana gang members.

Gangster Yusuf Bachkana’s accomplice, BMC employee Prakash Korve, at the office of the Anti Extortion Cell on Thursday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Habiba was tasked with providing the contact numbers of builders. As per the AEC, she went to the Ghatkopar-based builder posing as a customer, took his contact and passed it to Bachkana. “There are multiple extortion cases registered against her in Badlapur, Khar, Kurla, Thane and Dharavi,” Chavan added.

According to the AEC, there are 15 cases against Bachkana in Mumbai and at least seven in Karnataka, including murder, attempt to murder, possessing a fake passport and extortion. He was arrested in 2001 and convicted in 2004 in connection with the murder of Karnataka-based builder Subba Rao. 

Since his arrest in 2001, Bachkana has allegedly been running an extortion racket from the prison. Senior Mumbai Crime Branch officers have communicated with the authorities in Karnataka about the possible involvement of jail officials in procuring the mobiles he used.

Bachkana was once the right-hand man of gangsters Chhota Rajan and Ravi Pujari and played an important role in eliminating several members of Dawood Ibrahim’s gang.

Bachkana’s background

In August 2020, five members of Bachkana’s gang killed a Hubbali-based developer, Sayyed Irfan alias Irfan Fruit. The murder was planned in Mumbai and executed in Hubbali, Karnataka. Bachkana was eventually arrested in the case.

Bachkana was arrested at the age of 16 for attempting to murder a pimp in Nagpada. He was later released from the shelter home meant for minors in conflict with law. Then he got in touch with Chhota Rajan and in 1998, shot Mutalik Patel, the alleged financier of Dawood at Bandra railway station. In 1999, he had three weapons cases against him and a fake passport case with the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU). In 2001, he was involved in the Hanif Lakdawala firing case. In 2014, Bachakana’s name surfaced in the plot to murder filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.

Rs 50 lakh
Amount Bachkana wanted from builder in the latest case

15
No. of cases against Bachkana in Mumbai

16
Bachkana’s age when he was arrested for attempt to murder

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