Mumbai Crime Branch have busted an organised extortion racket operating in Sakinaka, Andheri and adjoining areas, targeting local traders. The Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) arrested Yogesh Ramesh Maurya, founder of the I-Baba Foundation, red-handed while allegedly accepting extortion money under the Sakinaka Metro station.
According to AEC, the accused had been extorting large sums from grain and grocery traders for the past several months by threatening them with death and false cases.
The complainant, Mayur Daulat Bhandalkar (32), who works in goods transportation for a grocery shop in Andheri East, told police that since October 9, 2025, Maurya had repeatedly stopped his vehicle, falsely claiming that it was carrying stolen or illegally rationed goods. He allegedly threatened Bhandalkar and the shop owner, Pravin Gami, with false criminal cases and dire consequences.
The accused reportedly projected himself as an influential figure, claiming to command a gang of 120 people, and warned that all traders in the area paid him protection money or faced severe consequences. Due to fear, the victims paid extortion amounts on different occasions and at various locations, including Sakinaka, Asalfa Village, Malad and Vakola. Police said the accused demanded ₹5 lakh, ₹3 lakh, ₹15 lakh and ₹3 lakh on separate occasions, extorting a total of ₹12.50 lakh so far. He had also demanded an additional ₹5 lakh and a monthly “hafta” of ₹50,000.
The victims preserved audio recordings of the threats and extortion demands made by the accused. On January 23, 2026, Maurya again demanded ₹5 lakh and called the complainant under the Sakinaka Metro station. Acting on the tip-off, police laid a trap using dummy currency notes. As soon as Maurya accepted the money, he was caught red-handed.
During interrogation, the accused named his associates, including Rajan Singh alias Batla and Manoj Gupta, who allegedly conducted reconnaissance of traders, passed on information and shared the extortion proceeds. Police have registered a case under serious sections of law and launched a manhunt to nab other members of the gang. Further arrests in the extortion network are likely soon.