KOCHI: Four people were arrested by the Crime Branch for extorting Rs 108 crore from expatriate businessman Abdul Lahir, a native of Aluva. The arrested persons are Abdul Lahir's son-in-law Hafiz Kudroli from Kasaragod, his father Ahmed Shafi, his mother Aisha, and Akshay Thomas Vaidyan, who runs a media agency in Vazhakkala. It was Akshay Thomas who manufactured and handed over fake certificates to Hafiz. All four were later released on bail based on the court order.

The passports of the first and second accused have been seized. The Crime Branch has intensified its search for Aslam Gurikkal, the fifth accused. The mass arrest took place the other day.

Earlier, Goa police had arrested Hafiz for financial fraud. The Crime Branch officials are hoping to get crucial evidence from the laptop seized during the raid at Akshay Thomas' house. The laptop has been sent for forensic examination. According to the Crime Branch, Hafiz used to borrow money from his friends as he lost all the money he had invested. The crime branch found that he swindled crores of Rupees of Abdul Lahir in order to repay this.