Home / Crime and Justice / Mumbai Cops Nab Duo in Goa Project Blackmail Scheme
Mumbai Cops Nab Duo in Goa Project Blackmail Scheme
30 Aug
Summary
- Two arrested for demanding Rs 6 crore from Goa housing project officials.
- Accused allegedly threatened to disrupt project work in Bicholim.
- Payments totaling Rs 41 lakh were allegedly made before arrests.
Mumbai police have arrested two individuals, Siddesh Tari and Pritesh Salgaonkar, in connection with an alleged extortion plot targeting the House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoAL) housing project in Goa. The arrests were made by the anti-extortion cell (AEC) on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
The AEC acted on a complaint filed by HoAL liaison officer Bhushan Patil. Patil alleged that Tari and Salgaonkar visited the 'One Goa' project site in Karapur, Bicholim, in late April 2026. During this visit, they reportedly threatened Patil and a colleague, demanding Rs 3 crore each to allow project work to continue.
Subsequently, the demand was allegedly reduced to Rs 10 lakh per person. Records indicate Tari received Rs 34 lakh in installments, while Salgaonkar received Rs 7 lakh. Despite these payments, the pair allegedly persisted with their demands, with Salgaonkar reportedly calling Patil on August 12, 2026, to demand an additional Rs 10 lakh for uninterrupted project operations. Salgaonkar also claimed to be organizing protests and offered to provide details for payment to withdraw them.
