The Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested 53-year-old Tariq Parveen, a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, in connection with gangster Ejaz Lakdawala's extortion syndicate. The AEC has also registered a fresh case against Lakdawala for allegedly threatening a South Mumbai-based businessman since 2013, and have mentioned the names of Parveen, top police informer Saleem Maharaj and another arrested accused in the FIR for facilitating the extortion racket and providing information to the gangster.

According to the Crime Branch, Parveen, who was closely associated with Dawood and Chhota Shakeel, was also working for Lakdawala's extortion syndicate. Confirming his arrest, Joint Commissioner of Crime Branch, Santosh Rastogi, said, "During the investigation some crucial information and evidence against Parveen surfaced, based on which the FIR was registered and he was arrested."

According to Crime Branch sources, Parveen and Maharaj facilitated the extortion racket by providing details of businessmen and builders to Lakdawala. "After getting calls from the gangster, the complainants would meet Parveen and Maharaj for a settlement. The duo would then pass on the information to the gangster," an officer said.