Panaji, Jan 23 (IANS): Three persons from Maharashtra were arrested by the Goa Police on Wednesday for allegedly trying to extort Rs 3 crore from state Public Works Department Minister Deepak Pauskar.

Pradip Malik, Amol Swami and R. Patil were nabbed from outside the residence of Pauskar, police inspector in-charge of the Panaji police station Sudesh Naik told reporters.

"We have arrested the tree persons. During initial questioning they have said that they were working on behalf of another person who runs the extortion racket," Naik said.

Pauskar told reporters that he had received received several calls from an unknown phone numbers demanding that he pay Rs 3 crore in ransom failing which he would be "fixed".

"I thought it was a joke, but when they kept calling and threatening me. I decided to inform the police," he said.

As instructed by the police, Pauskar called the callers to his residence here on Wednesday evening, before the police arrested them.

"The police should investigate their motive," he said.