India, Sept. 27 -- A special MCOCA court on Thursday granted bail to Salim Abdul Sattar Penwala, also known as Salim Maharaj or Salim Dadhi, an alleged close aide of gangster Ejaz Lakdawala, in a 2020 extortion case.

Special Judge NR Pradhan granted Penwala bail primarily because he has been incarcerated for over five years. Additionally, though charges against him were framed on February 2, 2022, the prosecution had so far examined only two witnesses, both of whom did not support its case.

The case dates back to August 2019, when a real estate developer received international calls to his office in Mazgaon demanding a ransom. Investigators later alleged that Penwala had acted as a link between the complainant and Lakdawala, who alleged...