The Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Mumbai crime branch arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly threatening and extorting two television anchors associated with a popular reality dance show Nach Baliye on Tuesday night.
The Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Mumbai crime branch arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly threatening and extorting two television anchors associated with a popular reality dance show Nach Baliye on Tuesday night.
While threatening the victims, the accused claimed that he was in possession of a video clip that shows them having used un-parliamentary language against various Indian national leaders and threatened to take action against them.
The accused has been identified as Amit Barik, a resident of Vasai, who claimed to be an ex-army official. The victims – Karan Patel and Hritvik Dhanjani – practiced for the show at Film City in Goregaon (E).
Barik had given a written complaint to the Aarey sub-police station, claiming that Patel and Dhanjani had used un-parliamentary words against national leaders. "Barik also claimed that if he handed over the clip to the police, immediate action would be taken against the actors," said additional commissioner of police (crime) KMM Prasanna.
To not release the clip to media, Barik demanded Rs 25 lakh from the victims. The actors told their friend who runs an NGO and got an extortion complaint registered. The AEC also started their investigations.
"A trap was laid at Oshiwara bus depot where Barik had called the victims' friend with first installment of Rs15 lakh. He was caught red-handed while accepting the money. We have seized an Innova, three mobile phones and the money from them," said senior inspector Vinayak Vast from AEC.
"Someone secretly shot the video when the victims were casually doing mimicry. Barik has two cheating cases against him in Thane district and has been arrested in the past. He has been handed over to Aarey sub-police," said a crime branch officer.
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