The house help of absconding DCP Saurabh Tripathi, who is an accused in the angadia extortion case, was brought to Mumbai and produced before the holiday court on Sunday. According to sources, the crime branch has recovered Rs 1.5 lakh from the house help Pappukumar Pyarelal Gaud, who was arrested from Lucknow’s Gomtinagar. He has turned out to be a crucial lead in the case, which directly links Tripathi in the extortion racket. The court has granted custody to the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai Crime Branch till March 28.

According to the crime branch, the extortion money was sent through hawala to Uttar Pradesh allegedly by Tripathi and the amount has been received by his house help. “He has been brought to Mumbai, however, he is not cooperating. The investigation has revealed that the amount sent from Mumbai was received by him. He has been the house help of the absconding accused for the past several years,” an officer said, on condition of anonymity.