Ajit Pandey, Slumdog Millionaire actor Arrested by Crime Branch

Ajit Pandey a 21-year-old actor of Oscar winning movie Slumdog Millionaire was arrested for allegedly extorting money and threatening to kill a Bollywood film director by posing as brother of underworld don Chhota Shakeel, police said on Monday.

A crime branch officer said, “He would call up saying, ‘Aey producer! Main Irfan bolta hun. Ye Ajit Pandey apne gang ka hai lekin abhi sudhar gaya hai. Isko kaam dene ka, nahi to uda doonga.’

Ajit Pandey, played a character called ‘Javed Goon’ in the Oscar winning movie.

Introducing himself as Irfan Husri, brother of Chhota Shakeel, he threatened the victim to give roles to his friend Ajit Pandey.

However, police probe revealed that it was Pandey, who made threatening calls in the name of Husri.

“On May 24, Pandey phoned the victim introducing himself as Husri. He said that he is a brother of Chhota Shakeel and told the victim to provide good roles to actor Pandey, who is his close aide,” Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Rakesh Maria said.

He was produced before a local court which remanded him to police custody till June 27.

“However, the victim did not pay heed to threatening calls following which Husri demanded Rs 20 lakh,” Maria said, adding that the accused also threatened to kill the director if he failed to pay the money.

“The motive of the accused was to get more roles. He thought that if he takes Shakeel’s name, the victim would give him good roles,” he said.

Pandey has worked in several serials including Sarthi, O Darling Ye Hai India and Jai Hanuman.

A trap was laid and Pandey was arrested from suburban Bhayandar. He was later charged under Sections 384 (Extortion) and 506(2) (Criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, Maria said.