Mumbai: Navi Mumbai Police have arrested an 18-year-old student from Assam for allegedly sending death threats and demanding Rs. 1 crore from rapper Mohammad Bilal Shaikh, better known by his stage name Emiway Bantai, officials said on Wednesday.
The accused, Arulv Rameshkumar Alohi, a second-year commerce student from Assam’s Sonitpur district, was apprehended after police traced his digital footprint during an investigation into the extortion attempt.
According to the NRI Coastal Police, Alohi sent multiple WhatsApp messages to Emiway Bantai’s office from an anonymous number.
In the messages, he demanded Rs. 1 crore and threatened to kill the rapper if the amount wasn’t paid.
He also falsely claimed ties to notorious gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, and Rohit Gadara in an attempt to add credibility to his threats.
The threats reportedly came after Emiway released a tribute song for late Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala.
Although the threatening messages were deleted by the sender, Emiway’s team had already taken screenshots and provided them to the authorities.
“Based on the evidence submitted, we registered an FIR and launched a technical investigation. The accused was located and arrested in Assam,” said a police official involved in the probe.
ALSO READ: Arunachal Pradesh steps up crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants
Further investigation revealed that the youth had sent similar extortion threats to other musicians in the past.
During questioning, Alohi reportedly confessed that he intended to make quick money and gain notoriety.
The police are continuing their inquiry to determine whether others were involved or if the accused acted alone.
