Dhoni`s family receives threat letter, security upgraded

Ranchi, Dec 31 (PTI) Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's
family has received an extortion letter threatening to harm
them if a demand of Rs 50 lakh is not met from suspected local
criminals following which police have further tightened
security.

Police said Wednesday that the letter was sent to Dhoni's
family by a person claiming to be a member of the underworld
don Dawood Ibrahim's gang but maintained "it is actually a
letter that has originated locally from a colony which is very
much inside Ranchi and not very far from where Dhoni lives".

Suspecting that the letter could be a job of "local
criminals," Inspector General and Jharkhand Police spokesman S
N Pradhan said, "the perceived threat from the underworld
gangs is for the moment ruled out".

He, however, said that "we are taking all precautionary
measures and I am sure it will be sorted out quickly".

Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Sampat Meena said,
"We got information yesterday that they (Dhoni's family)
received a letter by post demanding extortion money".

She told a press conference here that "after premilinary
investigation we find that it is the handiwork of one Taslim,
a local criminal facing extortion charges". Taslim has been
asconding for a long time, she said.

Reports published in Hindi newspapers here have said that
Dhoni's father Paan Singh had received the letter on December
29 from one Taslim who claimed that he was a member of
Dawood's gang. PTI