Palghar, Maharashtra: A former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator from Nalasopara, Swapnil Bandekar, along with three associates, including a Right To Information (RTI) activist, were arrested on Saturday night by Navghar police for allegedly attempting to extort a builder in Worli.

The group was accused of demanding a sum of Rs 10 crore from the builder in exchange for halting a series of RTI requests and threats to obstruct his ongoing Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects in Worli and Mahim.

The arrested individuals were identified as Swapnil Bandekar (former corporator), Himanshu Shah (RTI activist), Nitin, and Kishore. They were taken into custody after a trap was set by the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police following a complaint lodged by 34-year-old builder, Akash Pawan Gupta.

According to the police complaint, the builder, who had been working on slum redevelopment projects at the two locations for nearly two years, began receiving multiple RTI requests filed by Bandekar and his associates. He was informed by his architect that a former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator from Nalasopara and three of his associates had been filing RTI requests about the project. The builder assured the architect that they had all the necessary permissions.

However, when Gupta met Bandekar and his associates at a coffee shop in Matunga on October 22, 2024, the former corporator allegedly showed the builder a series of RTI applications and complaints filed against him, threatening that if he did not pay Rs 10 crore, the projects would be stalled.

When Gupta initially offered Rs 25 lakh to settle the matter, Bandekar reportedly became enraged, verbally abusing the builder and threatening violence. Bandekar allegedly asked Himanshu Shah if he was carrying a firearm to intimidate the builder further. Fearing for his safety, Gupta agreed to pay Rs 1.5 crore in installments.

Despite his reluctance to comply with the demand, the builder reported the extortion attempt to the police. Authorities advised him to set up a meeting with the accused on Saturday, offering the first installment of Rs 25 lakh.

The police set a trap and caught Himanshu Shah red-handed while accepting the money at a restaurant on Mira Road. Following this, the remaining three accused were also arrested by Navghar police from Nalasopara East.

DCP (Zone I) Prakash Gaikwad confirmed that the four accused will be produced before the court. The investigation is ongoing, and the police have assured further updates in due course.