A man has been arrested for extortion bid on Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil, Surat crime branch officials said.
Identified as Jinendra Shah of Ahmedabad, the accused was reportedly trying to extort Rs 8 crore from the Navsari MP, alleging that he had indulged in corruption of Rs 80 crore.
Based on a complaint filed by Surat BJP Yuva Morcha secretary Sunny Thakor, Shah was booked under extortion and defamation charges. A Surat court later granted his three-day police remand.
In his complaint, Thakor alleged Shah had floated a video on social media in order to defame CR Paatil and the BJP by alleging corruption, which had tarnished both Paatil and the BJP’s image. Shah had asked for a commission of Rs 8 crore not to defame Paatil.
A Surat crime branch official said: “We have arrested Shah on extortion charges as he levelled corruption charges of Rs 80 crore against CR Paatil. This is evident from the video Shah had posted, in which he said that he asked for a commission of Rs 8 crore. Shah had also threatened to defame Paatil if the money was not paid. We have booked Shah under IPC 384, 500 and other appropriate sections. We had produced him in court and got three days’ remand.”
In the FIR, Thakor said he had received a video on WhatsApp, in which Jinendra Shah claimed that he had collected Rs 80 crore as fund for the BJP and had handed over the money to Paatil, which the latter did not deposit with the party. He also alleged that the BJP was a party of goons.
Thakor said the accused used the video for political motives and to instigate people.
“Shah has alleged that he was attacked by three persons who came in a black car. The police should investigate the allegations as well as where Shah got Rs 80 crore for party funds and also another Rs 60 lakh to distribute among various booths in the election,” Thakor said in his FIR.
