FIR registered after representative of developer complains of repeated financial demands
Mumbai: Mumbai's NM Joshi Marg police have registered an extortion case against two men from Goa and several associates after a liaison officer of a real estate company alleged repeated monetary demands to allow a project in Goa to proceed without hindrance, officials said on Sunday.
The complaint, lodged on August 27, prompted investigators to invoke relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections dealing with extortion and criminal intimidation. A formal probe is underway, the police added.
Allegations and amounts
According to the FIR, the accused asked the developer's representative to pay ₹6 crore to ensure uninterrupted work at the construction site in Goa. The complainant stated that two of the suspects—identified as Siddhesh Jana Tari and Pritesh Salgaonkar—accepted money from him over several months.
| Accused | Alleged amount taken (₹) |
|---|---|
| Siddhesh Jana Tari | 34,00,000 |
| Pritesh Salgaonkar | 7,00,000 |
| Total allegedly collected: ₹41,00,000 | |
The complaint, as per the police, also states that the accused renewed their demands recently with a fresh claim for ₹10 lakh, after which the company official approached the NM Joshi Marg station where the firm's office falls under jurisdiction.
Where the matter stands
Investigators said the FIR names the two Goa residents and their associates; a probe has been launched to verify the accusations, trace the flow of funds and establish whether the alleged threats amounted to a systematic attempt to obstruct the construction activity.
Police officials did not provide further operational details, citing the ongoing nature of the inquiry. No charge-sheet has been filed yet and no arrests were announced at the time of the report.
Local and business implications
Extortion claims against actors connected to infrastructure projects raise concerns about project delays, added costs and investor confidence. In this instance, the complainant portrayed the demands as a direct attempt to halt or disrupt work unless payments were made, a matter that, if proven, could have legal and contractual consequences for those involved.
- Key allegation: demands to permit uninterrupted construction in Goa.
- Reported receipts: instalment payments totalling ₹41 lakh.
- Further demand: a claimed fresh ask of ₹10 lakh.
Legal experts say such allegations are treated seriously by police and courts because they can amount to criminal intimidation and extortion under the penal code equivalents now framed within the BNS. Remedies can include search, seizure, attachment of assets and prosecution if the evidence supports the allegations.
What police will examine
Investigators are expected to scrutinise bank records, transaction trails and communication between the complainant and the accused to corroborate the timeline of demands and payments. They will also seek to establish the role of each named individual and any wider syndicate or local actors alleged to have been involved.
The probe may also examine whether the purported interference had any effect on construction permits, labour mobilisation or public authorities in Goa, details that could widen the scope of the inquiry if officials there are found to have been targeted or involved.
No representative of the accused has publicly commented through police channels. The company named in the FIR submitted the complaint to Mumbai police after what it described as continued intimidation and pressure, the FIR record shows.
The case was registered on August 27 and continues under detectives at the NM Joshi Marg station, with investigators coordinating as needed to pursue leads connected to the coastal project in Goa.
