A driver and a former office assistant of classical vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan were arrested for allegedly demanding Rs 50 lakh and threatening to kill his family if the amount was not paid.
The threats started coming on October 9, with the caller using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to reach one of Khan’s daughters several times on her mobile phone.
The caller first demanded Rs 50 lakh and gradually scaled it down to Rs 20 lakh, failing which he threatened to kill Armaan, Rashid’s son, police said.
The caller is said to have told his daughter that snipers had been placed outside Khan’s south Calcutta home and they could also use a drone if the amount was not paid.
The Khans initially ignored the calls. But when they started coming too frequently, Khan’s wife Jayita lodged a complaint at Netajinagar police station on October 9.
The police said Jayita told them that the caller told her daughter over phone that he was aware she had one brother and that he would be killed first if they failed to pay up.
A case was drawn up against several persons on charges of extortion and death threats. The family was immediately provided with police security and the detective department started a probe along with the local police.
Between October 13 and 14, two persons — Deepak Aulakh of Amroha in Uttar Pradesh and Avinash Kumar Bharti of Begusarai in Bihar — were arrested for their alleged involvement in the case.
The police said the family had laid off both Deepak and Avinash a few months back. The arrested duo told investigators they wanted to settle scores with the family for sacking them, the police said.
“The police have done a great job. The accused have been arrested. Our puja celebrations were marred though,” Khan said.
“Avinash used to provide details about the movement of the family members to Deepak by virtue of being the driver. Deepak used to make the calls seeking the amount as ‘protection money’,” said a senior police officer. “We are questioning the two in our custody for further details.”