‘Journalist’ booked for attempt to extort money from businessman

According to the FIR, the accused is a resident of Hadapsar. He allegedly went to the complainant’s office in West Street in Pune Camp area between December 20 and December 24, claiming that he was a journalist and that he had observed illegal gambling going on, on the premises.

The accused then allegedly demanded a “hafta” of Rs 5,000 every month from the businessman. He threatened to expose the alleged illegal activities of the complainant and publish it as news if he did not get the money.

Senior police inspector Dashrath Patil of Lashkar police station said the complainant is into hotel business. “We have issued a notice to the accused, who claims to be a journalist…So far, we have not found any media ID in possession of the accused. Investigation is underway,” said Patil. Police have booked the accused under sections 385 (putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extor­tion) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.