Sextortion Scandal: Journalist and Accomplices Arrested in Gadchiroli
Sextortion Scandal Unveiled: Journalist and Accomplices in Gadchiroli Police Custody
by Nagpur Trends Team | Published on 2024-01-30 15:36:57
Gadchiroli police conducted an early morning operation, arresting four individuals, which included a city journalist, a police officer, and two others, on charges of sextortion. The accused allegedly demanded ₹10 lakh from an assistant engineer employed in the Public Works Department (PWD) of Gadchiroli's Zilla Parishad.
The arrested individuals have been identified as journalist Ravikant Kamble, police officer Sushil Gawai, Rohit Ahir, and a woman.
According to sources, on December 4, 2023, the engineer visited a hotel in Nagpur with a call girl in the Hingna area. They spent time together, and the girl captured some pictures with the engineer, subsequently sharing them with her associates.
The call girl informed journalist Kamble about the situation, who then threatened to implicate the engineer in a rape case falsely and demanded a ransom of ₹10 lakh. Police constable Gavai, associated with the honey-trapping gang, also demanded ₹10 lakh from the engineer to resolve the case. Sources indicate that initially when the call girl accused the engineer of rape, she contacted Gavai, who assured the engineer of settling the case. Gavai pretended to have paid some money to Kamble for the case's resolution.
For the past month, the accused had been pressuring the engineer for money, threatening to file a rape case against him. They also claimed that the girl became pregnant after their encounter in the hotel.
Disturbed by these allegations, the engineer filed a complaint with the Gadchiroli police on Sunday. Following this, Superintendent of Police Neelotpal dispatched Crime Branch Police Inspector Ulhas Bhusari and his team to Nagpur. On Monday, a sting operation was conducted in Nagpur, leading to the exposure of the extortion gang. Police sources reveal that the accused have been transported to Gadchiroli, where a comprehensive investigation is currently in progress.
Sources further indicate that the accused have a history of engaging in such blackmail activities, suggesting that this crackdown may encourage other potential victims to come forward.