Rajkot Businessman Files Police Complaint Over Alleged Extortion and Defamation Plot
A 54-year-old transport businessman and political-social leader from Rajkot has lodged a formal complaint at the Gandhidham City A Division police station, accusing 14 individuals of orchestrating a conspiracy to extort money and tarnish his reputation through online videos. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Juma Raima alleged that the accused uploaded false content on a YouTube channel and threatened to release 'obscene material' unless he complied with their financial demands.
Details of the Alleged Harassment and Extortion Attempts
The incidents reportedly began in 2025 when Raima placed advertisements in newspapers for a religious event. Ibrahim Halepotra, who operates a YouTube channel, attended the event and demanded Rs 20,000 for coverage. When Raima refused, he was allegedly threatened that this refusal could eventually cost him Rs 20 lakh. The harassment escalated in February with the upload of a video accusing Raima of misconduct within his family.
On March 2, another video featured a woman from Anjar claiming that Raima cheated her of Rs 20 lakh in a Mumbai land deal. The FIR states that she later demanded Rs 20 lakh to keep the matter private and remove the video online. Raima further asserted that these videos were designed to hurt religious sentiments, adding a layer of severity to the accusations.
List of Accused and Legal Charges Filed
The 14 accused named in the FIR include Irfan Halepotra, Ismail Bafan, Sattar Manjothi, Tahir Bhatti, Ishaq Jat, Latif Gagda, Zakariya Kumbhar, Salim Jat, Amirsah Syed, Iqbal Mandhra, Suleman Rauma, Hanifsha Sheikh, Deepti Thakkar, and Adam Padeyar. The FIR has been filed under sections 61(2), 308(3), 299, 351(1), and 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alleging a coordinated conspiracy by the group to extort money, defame Raima, and outrage religious sentiments.
Related Arrest in Morbi for Alleged Extortion Case
In a separate but related development, Halvad police have arrested Mehul Bharvad, a local scribe, in connection with an extortion case and a prior 2024 chemical theft incident. The arrest followed a complaint filed on February 18 by Vasudev Sonagra, a 40-year-old owner of a soap and detergent factory in Morbi.
According to the complaint, on February 13, Bharvad and his associate Lala Parmar visited Sonagra's factory, recorded a video, and threatened him. They allegedly claimed the factory's labourers were involved in a marijuana case and demanded Rs 5 lakh to prevent a police case and the sealing of the facility. The duo reportedly threatened to upload the video on Bharvad's online platform if the demand was not met. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the BNS, including 308(6) and 332(C).
These incidents highlight growing concerns over online harassment and extortion tactics in the region, with authorities taking action under the new legal framework of the BNS to address such crimes.
