“Woman Who Accused Maharashtra Minister of Harassment Arrested for Alleged Extortion”

Satara: A woman who had previously accused Maharashtra Minister Jaykumar Gore of harassment has been arrested for allegedly attempting to extort ₹3 crore to settle the case, police said on Friday.

Gore, a BJP leader and Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, represents the Man assembly constituency in Maharashtra’s Satara district.

Caught Accepting ₹1 Crore in Alleged Extortion Attempt

According to police officials, the woman was arrested in Satara by the local crime branch.

“She demanded ₹3 crore to drop her allegations against Jaykumar Gore. She was caught red-handed while accepting ₹1 crore of the total amount. Police are currently questioning her,” an official said.

Minister Denies Allegations, Opposition Demands Answers

The case has sparked controversy, with the Opposition demanding Gore’s resignation. They accuse him of sending inappropriate photos and harassing the woman. However, the minister has strongly denied the allegations, stating that he was acquitted by a court in 2019.

“A case under Section 354 (molestation) of the Indian Penal Code was filed against me in 2017, but the trial court acquitted me in 2019. The court also ordered that all material from the investigation be destroyed,” Gore said.

Despite his acquittal, opposition leaders have raised concerns about the money exchange. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar questioned why money was being handed over in the first place.

“₹3 crore is a huge amount. Why was ₹1 crore given to the woman? What did she have that made people willing to pay her? Where did this money come from? If you are innocent, why not ignore her alleged threats?” Pawar said while speaking to reporters in Mumbai.

Defamation Claims and Privilege Motion Against Opposition Leaders

In response to the renewed accusations, Gore has filed a breach of privilege motion against Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and Rohit Pawar, alleging that they are defaming him by bringing up an old case that has already been dismissed by the courts.

Meanwhile, the case has taken another twist with the arrest of Tushar Kharat, a journalist from the YouTube channel Lay Bhari. He was detained earlier this month for allegedly making derogatory remarks about one of Gore’s aides and was also accused of attempting to extort ₹5 crore from the minister.

Kharat was arrested in Mumbai by Satara police, adding another layer of complexity to the already politically charged case.

As investigations continue, the controversy surrounding Jaykumar Gore remains a hot topic in Maharashtra’s political landscape.

News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”