Mumbai Crime Branch on Friday arrested notorious gangster Ravi Mallesh Borra, alias DK Rao (59), a long-time aide of underworld don Chhota Rajan, along with two others for allegedly threatening investors on behalf of a builder who had defaulted on payments worth over Rs 1 crore.

This marks Rao’s second arrest this year — he was earlier nabbed in January for issuing death threats to a hotelier in a separate extortion case.

According to officials, the arrested trio includes small-time builder Mimit Bhuta and Anil Parerao, who allegedly acted as intermediaries in the intimidation plot. The complaint, registered earlier this week, accuses the builder of taking money from several investors without completing the promised housing project. When the investors began demanding their money back, the builder allegedly hired DK Rao to threaten them and force them to stay silent.

“The deal was valued at over Rs 1 crore. When investors started pressing for refunds, the builder contacted DK Rao to scare them,” a senior officer from the Crime Branch told mid-day.

The officer added that although the incident took place last year, the formal complaint was filed only recently, leading to the registration of an FIR and subsequent arrests.

He said that he will be produced before a court on Saturday.

In January this year, Rao was arrested for allegedly threatening an Andheri-based hotel owner to sell his property at a throwaway price and for issuing death threats. He was later granted bail by a sessions court in April.

A resident of Dharavi, Rao began his criminal career with petty thefts in the 1990s before joining Chhota Rajan’s gang, where he was involved in extortion operations across Mumbai. Over time, he formed his own network while continuing to maintain loyalty to Rajan.

The gangster has 42 criminal cases registered against him, including six for murder, five for dacoity, and several for extortion. In October 2022, the Bombay High Court granted him bail in an organised crime case where he had allegedly made extortion calls from behind bars. He remained out on bail until his re-arrest earlier this year.

Crime Branch officials said Rao’s latest arrest shows how veteran gangsters continue to operate as muscle-for-hire in real estate disputes, despite repeated arrests and court cases. Further investigation is underway.

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