Investigations done by police have revealed that gangsters have been able to breach the Voluntray Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS) records and have also prised confidential information from some Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation corporators.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime), Lalit Godbole, who heads the squad investigating the wave of extortion threats, confirms: ``The VDIS details known to the extortionists match those which the victims have supplied to the I-T authorities.'' He added that the police are working on at least three cases where gangsters had sourced their information from the VDIS. At least four other cases relate to KDMC corporators, who leaked information from confidential records. Though no arrests have been made, police claim they are making headway in theinvestigation.

The Anti-Manchekar Squad set up following the October 16 murder of Dr Deepak Shetty in Kalyan has identified the source of the leaks. With the dreaded Manchekar's men leaning on them, lower level staff manning the local VDIS counters in Kalyan, Thane and Mumbai were only too willing to squeal, police say. Also, KDMC corporators, who are privy to classified information relating to financial transactions of doctors attached to civic medical facilities, were a treasure trove of details.

And once a target's worth was ascertained, the rest was easy. When Dr Anil Rathod (not his real name) from Kalyan picked up the telephone on October 25, he grew faint as a voice crackled to life at the other end. ``If you can deposit with the VDIS a cheque of Rs 50 lakh through your brother-in-law, can't you afford to pay us just half the amount,'' the anonymous caller ordered in chaste Marathi. Dr Rathod, who has registered a complaint with the Thane police, has grown a second shadow ever since. Despite thearmed guard provided by the police, he quivers every time the telephone rings.

Sampath Nair (not his real name), a medical representative servicing municipal dispensaries, received his death threat on October 18. ``Give us Rs 15 lakh if you value your life. You have an outstanding bill of Rs 25 lakh with the municipal corporation and we are asking for Rs 15 lakh only. You had better pay up!'' Nair, who has also lodged a complaint with the police, refused to pay up. Today, he stares at the telephone, the threats still ringing out loud in his ears.

A surgeon who was similarly threatened, was asked to pay Rs 50 lakh. ``What about the palatial house you have at Nashik? Don't worry, we have your assets on record with us,'' he was told.

Police subsequently tapped the phones of eight victims and recorded some of the conversations. Most of the calls were made from public telephones, from places between Ulhasnagar and Karjat and Navi Mumbai as well.

Chairperson of the KDMC Standing Committee, Vilas Mhatre,when contacted denied any connection between corporators and gangsters. He also denied knowledge that the police possess information on tainted corporators. ``Let the police probe the truth,'' was his laconic reply.