A commerce graduate from Haryana, purporting to be an associate of Abu Salem gang, was arrested on charges of threatening film actress Manisha Koirala and a businessman to pay up huge amount as extortion money. A businessman related to the film industry had lodged a complaint with the anti-extortion cell about an alleged Abu Salem gangster who had demanded Rs 20 lakh from him, joint commissioner of police B Mohite told newspersons here Monday.

Manisha had earlier approached the police commissioner and briefed him about a similar threat received by her from an alleged Abu Salem aide, Mohite said. Working on the information, police laid a trap and directed the businessman to deliver the amount to the accused. As directed by the telephone caller, the businessman deposited a bag in a military bogie of the Punjab Mail which was scheduled to depart from Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus at 7.10 pm on July 28. At around 7.05 pm, a man dressed in a maroon shirt and khakhi pants approached the bogie, snatched the briefcase and moved towards a running train. The anti-extortion cell personnel who were present on the spot immediately nabbed him.

On interrogation, 24-year-old Vikram, hailing from Sonipat, Haryana admitted that he had threatened the businessman and the actress.