3 activists arrested for extortion
The incident you’ve described involves the arrest of three Right to Information (RTI) activists — Lakshmi Narayan Shetty, Pankaj Chandan Shive, and Anil Mhaske — who were detained by Mulund Police on Monday night for allegedly being involved in an extortion scheme aimed at builders. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what happened:
Background of the Case:
The trio allegedly used their RTI activism to exploit and blackmail builders by threatening to file complaints against them with various government authorities. This tactic was reportedly used to coerce builders into paying them money to avoid bureaucratic delays and legal hurdles in their construction or renovation projects.
The Victim:
Sanjay Gharat, a developer looking to refurbish an old property, became their latest target.
The trouble began in January when Lakshmi Narayan Shetty approached Gharat, demanding Rs 1 lakh to refrain from filing complaints that could potentially obstruct his repair work.
Gharat, hoping to resolve the matter quietly, paid Rs 50,000 to Shetty. However, the demands didn’t stop there.
Escalation of Demands:
After some time, another member of the group, Pankaj Chandan Shive, reached out to Gharat, demanding an additional Rs 1 lakh.
Gharat managed to pay only Rs 10,000 before realizing that he was being extorted.
The Final Attempt and Arrest:
The third suspect, Anil Mahaske, allegedly contacted Gharat this month, claiming affiliation with the previous two men and attempting to extract even more money.
Instead of succumbing to this new demand, Gharat decided to inform the police. The authorities set up a trap, resulting in the arrest of all three suspects.
Legal Proceedings:
The police registered a First Information Report (FIR) based on Gharat’s complaint. The suspects were taken into custody, and the authorities secured a seven-day remand to delve deeper into their activities.
The police are investigating whether the trio is part of a larger extortion network that preys on builders using similar tactics.
Previous Criminal Cases:
According to the police, Shetty and Shive already have two pending criminal cases against them, suggesting a history of unlawful activities.
Implications:
The arrests highlight the potential misuse of RTI activism, which was originally designed to promote transparency and accountability in government dealings. Unfortunately, some individuals are weaponizing it for personal gain.
The police investigation during the remand period will likely focus on uncovering whether there are other victims or accomplices involved in this alleged extortion ring.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the misuse of legal rights and tools meant for public welfare, emphasizing the need for safeguards to prevent such abuses.
News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”
