After having learnt from at least eight telecom service providers that a law enforcement agency had sought details of Call Detail Records (CDRs) of Mumbai-based people, who were being used by a private detective, Mumbai Police have written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to get details about the law enforcement agency involved. In August this year, Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of city crime branch had arrested one Imtiyaz Pothyawala alias Mannu, a resident of Agripada for allegedly blackmailing and extorting a 45-year-old city-based builder over his 'friendship' with a female friend. The builder had visited Goa with a friend in September 2017 on a holiday, where he had met a Mumbai based woman who too was holidaying there. They interacted with each and soon they became friends as they stayed in the same hotel. After returning back, the victim and woman stayed in contact and they also used to go for parties, said police. In May 2018, the victim received a call from Mannu who demanded Rs 2.50 crore extortion for now revealing his family about his close friendship with the woman. "Mannu also showed victim his call details record with the woman. The frightened victim paid Rs 10 lakh to Mannu, but the later kept blackmailing. After we arrested Mannu he told us that it was Manjrekar who had provided him CDRs of the victim," said the officer. "Manjrekar had in his possession several CDRs of various people who were subscribers of different telecom companies. When we made an inquiry with the telecom service providers we were told that the CDRs were sought from them by a law enforcement agency. The companies did not share details about the agency after which we have written to MHA as their permission is required to secure CDRs from telecom companies. Once it is known who helped the accused with CDRs, we would take further action," said a police officer.

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