In a dramatic sting operation, Surat's Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) apprehended a woman and her legal counsel on Saturday for an alleged extortion racket targeting a local businessman. The duo was caught red-handed while attempting to collect a hefty sum of money at a popular shopping mall.
The Mall Sting Operation
Acting on specific intelligence, a police team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Bhavesh Rojiya set a trap at VR Mall. Officers disguised themselves as customers in the food court, waiting for the suspects to arrive. The plan unfolded when 28-year-old Hetal Baraiya appeared to accept a bag filled with cash. At that moment, the team swooped in, arresting both Baraiya and her lawyer, Abhishek Shethiya.
The arrested individuals had come to collect the first installment of an extortion amount, which was initially set at a staggering Rs 50 lakh. Police investigations revealed that the demand was later negotiated down to Rs 42.5 lakh. During the raid, authorities also confiscated letter pads containing written promises to withdraw all legal cases once the payment was received.
Roots of the Blackmail Scheme
The case traces back to a relationship between the accused woman and the 54-year-old victim, a trader who operates a construction materials shop on Buari-Unai Road in Tapi district. The two reportedly met in 2022 through a mutual friend. Their association involved several hotel stays in Surat and intimate video calls.
It was during one such video call that Baraiya allegedly recorded a nude video of the pair. She later used this recording as leverage, first demanding Rs 50 lakh on November 8 to prevent the video's public release. When the trader refused to pay, Baraiya filed a formal complaint against him at Surat's Mahila police station.
Legal Threats and a Wanted Network
Investigations indicate that lawyer Abhishek Shethiya played a key role by threatening the victim. He allegedly warned the trader that paying the money could help him avoid serious criminal charges, including FIRs for rape and atrocities. This coercion was part of the strategy to force the payment.
During interrogation, Hetal Baraiya disclosed that she had connected with Shethiya through intermediaries identified as Suresh Jain alias Jayesh Prajapati and Ashok. Both these individuals have been officially booked in the case and are currently declared wanted by the police.
The Umra police station has registered a First Information Report (FIR) under BNS sections 308(6) and 54, which pertain to extortion through threats of false and serious accusations. The case highlights a calculated attempt to exploit personal relationships for financial gain, with the involvement of a legal professional adding a serious dimension to the crime.
