A serious case of extortion and criminal intimidation has been reported in the Halvad region of Morbi district, Gujarat. A local transporter has approached the police, alleging that two individuals from a neighboring district threatened to ruin his reputation by circulating private material online unless a hefty ransom was paid.
Threats to Viral Obscene Content for Money
The complainant, identified as Firoz Sandhi, aged 30, resides in Halvad. In his formal complaint to the Halvad police, he named Anas Sandhi and Haji Sandhi from Dhangadhra in Surendranagar district as the accused. The core of the allegation is a demand for Rs 5 lakh. The accused allegedly threatened Firoz that if the money was not paid, they would make obscene photographs and videos of him viral on various social media platforms.
Friendly Acquaintance Turns Sour
According to the details provided in the First Information Report (FIR), the connection between Firoz and the accused began approximately a year ago. They became acquainted during a land transaction, and over time, a friendly relationship developed. However, the situation took a dark turn very recently.
Over the past 10 days, the accused allegedly started repeatedly calling Firoz's elder brother, Majid Sandhi. During these calls, they issued graphic threats. "They claimed to possess obscene photos and videos of my younger brother and threatened to circulate them on social media. They also threatened to kill us," Majid stated in his account to the police, highlighting the severity of the intimidation.
Police Action and Legal Framework
Taking the complaint seriously, the Halvad police have registered a formal case. The charges have been framed under specific sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which has replaced the Indian Penal Code. The relevant sections invoked are 308(2), 351(3), and 54, pertaining to extortion, criminal intimidation, and related offences.
Law enforcement agencies have now launched a search operation to trace and apprehend the two accused individuals. An integral part of the investigation will also focus on determining how the alleged obscene photos and videos were obtained by the accused in the first place. The police are pursuing all leads to bring the culprits to justice and uncover the full extent of the plot.
