Bhubaneswar: Bharatpur police in the Capital city have arrested two persons on charges of extortion from the proprietor of a guest house operating at JJ Mansion within its jurisdiction.
The accused have been identified as Rana Pratap Mahapatra (36) and Debatosh Nayak (27), a press release issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Bhubaneswar said.
Police have seized a Maruti Alto car with Focus Plus, press mentioned in its backside; a Canon camera; a boom with Focus Plus channel logo; and a mobile phone, the press release added. The accused persons were forwarded to court today.
According to the press release, the accused persons were arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged at the Bharatpur police station on Sunday by Rabindra Khamari, the proprietor of the guest house operating at JJ Mansion.
Khamari had alleged in his complaint that some unidentified persons had visited him on Friday and had demanded money from him which he had declined.
Again on Saturday Mahapatra and Nayak along with their associates visited Khamari’s guest house apart from issuing threats asked Khamari to show the licence for operating the guest house.
When Khamari refused to show the licence they demanded Rs 2 lakh introducing themselves as scribes of Focus Plus Odia News.
The accused persons allegedly made a video using the camera and the boom and threatened to make the video viral.
Prior to making the video, the accused persons allegedly forced the complainant to make a false statement before the camera that he was paying Rs 1,500 monthly to Bharatpur police station. However, Khamari declined to make such a false statement.
Upon hearing the commotion outside, Khamari’s wife came out and out of fear offered her gold ornaments and Rs 20,000 in cash to the accused persons.
However, the accused persons were not satisfied and allegedly demanded Rs 70,000 more to be paid within two hours failing which they would make the video go viral.
In addition to that, the accused persons allegedly further threatened Khamari with his life if they reported the matter to the police.
Again after two hours the accused persons allegedly demanded Rs 70,000 from Khamari over the phone. But since Khamari told them that he can only pay them Rs 20,000, they abused him.
Left with no option, complainant Khamari lodged a complaint at the Bharatpur police station in this connection.
Later, the accused persons were captured by the police. Further investigation by the police in the matter is underway.
