Three Gujarat cops accused of trying to extort money after freezing bank accounts for 'probe'
Ahmedabad, Jan 26: A case of extortion was registered in Gujarat's Junagadh district on Friday against two police inspectors and an assistant sub inspector (ASI) for allegedly trying to extort Rs 25 lakh from a Kerala resident for unfreezing his bank account.
The First Information Report was registered after internal probe revealed that the accused trio had freezed some 335 bank accounts on the pretext of investigation and tried to extort money from one of the account holders when he approached them, said a police official here.
Based on a complaint filed by inspector S N Gohil from the office of Inspector General (IG) of Junagadh Range Nilesh Jajadia, Junagadh 'B' Division police registered the FIR against town police inspector Taral Bhatt, inspector with the cyber crime cell of Junagadh Special Operations Group (SOG) A M Gohil, and ASI Dipak Jani.
Indian Penal Code sections 167 (public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury), 465 (forgery), 385 (putting a person in fear for extortion), 120b (criminal conspiracy) besides relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act were invoked in the FIR, said inspector S N Gohil, the complainant.
"Both A M Gohil and Jani have already been suspended from service. No arrests have been made yet," he said.
As per the FIR, Kartik Bhandari, a resident of Kerala, learnt in December 2023 that his bank account had been freezed by the bank. Bank officials told him that it was done on the orders of the Cyber Crime Cell of Junagadh police.
When Bhandari contacted police officials in Junagadh, they sought some documents and bank statements. When the issue was still not resolved, he traveled to Junagadh on January 16, and contacted Jani and A M Gohil at SOG office.
Jani allegedly told Bhandari that the account was freezed as there were "secret inputs received from the Enforcement Directorate (ED)" about suspicious transactions worth crores of rupees, and demanded a bribe of Rs 25 lakh.
When Bhandari said he could arrange only Rs 3 to 4 lakh, Jani allegedly said other account holders had paid Rs 20 lakh each to unfreeze their accounts, and his senior officers will not settle for Rs 3-4 lakh.
Inspector A M Gohil then allegedly threatened to forward the case to the ED, the FIR said.
As advised by his lawyer, Bhandari contacted the Range IG and submitted an application to unfreeze his account. IG Jajadia asked inspector S N Gohil to conduct an inquiry.
Probe revealed that inspector Taral Bhatt had prepared a list several bank accounts and allegedly asked A M Gohil to have them freezed on the pretext of suspicious transactions.
As directed by Bhatt, A M Gohil and Jani allegedly issued letters to various banks between August and November last year and asked them to freeze 335 bank accounts, the FIR said.
Further probe is underway, inspector S N Gohil said.
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WB BJP chief urges state admin to act against violence perpetrators irrespective of party colours
Kolkata (PTI): A day after the BJP's sweeping victory in the West Bengal assembly polls, state party president Samik Bhattacharya on Tuesday urged the administration to act firmly against perpetrators of post-poll violence irrespective of political affiliation.
Addressing reporters after a meeting of the party's top leadership at its Bidhannagar office, Bhattacharya said strict action must be taken against those indulging in violence and warned that BJP workers found involved in such activities would be expelled from the party.
"Post-poll violence would not be tolerated in any form. If anyone from our party is found involved, we will be compelled to remove them," he said.
The BJP leader also appealed to Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala to ensure prompt administrative intervention wherever incidents of violence are reported.
"I would like to urge the administration to take necessary action wherever such incidents occur. This is precisely why the people of West Bengal have chosen the BJP," he said.
Bhattacharya thanked the electorate for the party's emphatic mandate and expressed gratitude to migrant workers who returned to the state to cast their votes despite logistical challenges.
According to party sources, a high-level meeting was held at the BJP's Bidhannagar office on Tuesday, attended by central observers and senior state leaders, to discuss measures to prevent violence and maintain law and order in the post-result scenario.
The discussions also focused on ensuring that there is no repeat of the violence reported after the 2021 assembly elections, when the BJP had accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of targeting its workers.
The BJP has secured 207 of the 293 seats where polls were held, securing a two-thirds majority and paving the way for its first government in West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress has won 80 seats.
Bhattacharya also appealed to party workers to maintain restraint and not let the victory celebrations turn disruptive.
"I urge our workers to remain peaceful, stay happy, and fulfil the responsibilities given by the party. Do not hurt anyone in the name of celebration, and do not hurt anyone's sentiments," he said.
