Mumbai Police Arrest Two in ₹2.5 Crore Extortion Case

A 31-year-old woman and a 27-year-old advocate were arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch's Anti-Extortion Cell in connection with an alleged extortion racket. The accused, Nivedita Apul Sharma and Rahityraj Rajivkumar Mishra, reportedly threatened to implicate a businessman in a false criminal case and demanded crores of rupees to withdraw the case.

The case originated from a complaint filed by a 32-year-old real estate agent from Gujarat. The complainant alleged that his brother-in-law, Nilay Jashbhai Patel, was being threatened by Sharma. According to police sources, Sharma and Patel knew each other and had travelled together to different cities and stayed at hotels on several occasions.

Sharma had allegedly been seeking ₹4-5 crore from Patel to start a new business. On July 23, Sharma allegedly lodged a criminal case against Patel at Mumbai Airport Police Station. The complainant subsequently asked Patel's friend, Lalit Kolhe, to find out what had led to the case. During conversations with Sharma, Kolhe allegedly learnt that she was demanding ₹4 crore in exchange for withdrawing the case.

The demand was later negotiated down to ₹2 crore and then increased to ₹2.5 crore. Investigators said several conversations between Sharma and Kolhe were recorded. On July 29, Kolhe allegedly met Sharma at a hotel in Santacruz, where she was accompanied by two men. According to police, Sharma and the others again demanded ₹2.5 crore and allegedly threatened that Patel would remain in jail if the money was not paid.

On August 13, Sharma allegedly instructed Kolhe to pay ₹5 lakh as an advance to a person using a particular mobile number at a location in BKC. Police said the ₹5 lakh was subsequently handed over and Sharma confirmed receipt of the money. The complainant later informed the police that Sharma would arrive to collect the remaining extortion money on August 14.

Acting on the information, the Anti-Extortion Cell laid a trap near Juhu and allegedly caught Sharma while she was accepting ₹45 lakh. The police subsequently registered a case under relevant provisions of the law, including sections relating to extortion, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation.

The investigation was later transferred to the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Crime Branch. During the investigation, police arrested Mishra after allegedly finding evidence that he had stayed with Sharma. The arrests were made on August 14 and 15, respectively.

The Mumbai Police's swift action in this case highlights their commitment to combating extortion and protecting the citizens of Mumbai. The case is a reminder that extortion is a serious crime that can have severe consequences for both the victims and the accused.

In recent years, there have been several cases of extortion reported in Mumbai, with many involving threats of false criminal cases. The Mumbai Police have been working to crack down on these cases and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The arrest of Sharma and Mishra is a significant development in the case and is expected to provide relief to the victim and his family. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are working to gather more evidence and build a strong case against the accused.

The case also highlights the importance of reporting extortion attempts to the police. The victim's family had reported the incident to the police, which led to the arrest of the accused. This case serves as an example of how the police and the public can work together to combat crime and bring perpetrators to justice.

In conclusion, the arrest of Sharma and Mishra is a significant step in the fight against extortion in Mumbai. The case is a reminder that the police are committed to protecting the citizens of Mumbai and will take swift action against those who engage in criminal activity.