Dhoni’s father Paan Singh

Ranchi, March 5: Mohammad Tasleem, the man allegedly behind last year’s extortion threats to Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s father, was arrested yesterday in Bhubaneswar, ending an 18-year-long manhunt for one of Jharkhand’s most notorious criminals wanted in several murder cases in and around the capital.

DGP V.D. Ram confirmed Tasleem’s arrest from Saheed Nagar in Bhubaneswar but could not provide further details. City police superintendent Richard Lakra said a police team from Ranchi would leave for the Orissa capital to take him on remand.

Dhoni’s father Paan Singh received two threat letters on December 29 and 30 last year. The letters, signed by Tasleem, threatened to blow up his house in Ranchi unless he paid up Rs 50 lakh.

Dhoni, who happened to be in Ranchi then, accompanied his father to the Jagannathpur police station to lodge an FIR, but till now the police couldn’t make any headway in the matter.

According to Tasleem’s elder brother, Mohmmed Naseem, he was arrested yesterday around 4.30pm. The Orissa police, he said, had booked him in connection with a high-profile murder case of New Delhi and an abduction case of Bhubaneswar.

However, Naseem, could not provide details of the circumstances under which his brother was arrested.

Asked why he was volunteering such information, he said it was “necessary for his safety” as he was under police custody.

Tasleem is wanted in connection with several murder cases registered against him at various police stations of the city. He is also an associate of another notorious criminal, Surendra Bengali.