Dharmendra Tiwari, Monday, March 13, 2006  00:29 IST

The Shiv-Sambho Trust, a charitable trust floated by Arun Gawli, is under police scanner for being used as shield to keep extortion money. The trust is also under the scrutiny of charity commissioner’s for not providing accounts details.

A Crime Branch officer said, “We are going to ask the charity commissioner to provide us details of trust’s financial transactions, especially its source of income.”

He said the trust came under  scanner after businessman Mohammed Qureshi alleged that co-accused Sadanand Panchal alias Bhauji, driver of councillor Sunil Ghate, asked him to deposit Rs15 lakh in the trust’s account. Qureshi alleged that Panchal demanded money on Gawli’s behalf to settle his Rs55-lakh financial dispute. Qureshi registered a complaint with the Crime Branch Unit-III on November 8, 2005 against Gawli, Sunil Ghate, trusted henchman of Gawli and councilor with BMC and four others.

Qureshi said fearing life threats from Gawli and its henchman, he had given Rs1 lakh to them. Later Qureshi had given Rs3 lakh in installments.

The Shiv-Sambho Trust runs free ambulance service in the JJ Hospital. It is also  involved in other social activities in Byculla, Chinchpokali and Mazgaon.

Sunil Ghate remanded in custody

The Special Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Saturday remanded Sunil Ghate, Akhil Bharatiya Sena councillor, in police custody till March 16 for extortion. ABS is floated by Arun Gawli. Ghate’s is the first arrest in an extortion case registered on November 8, 2005 by businessman Mohammed Qureshi.

http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1017827