3 arrested for extorting doctor with rape-POCSO charges in Jabalpur:Accused posing as journalist demands ₹37 lakh; arrested while taking cash

Police have arrested 3 accused in Jabalpur’s Sanjeevani Nagar police station area who were demanding money by threatening to implicate a doctor in rape and POCSO Act cases. Based on the complainant Dr. Amit Khare’s report, police arrested Praveen Singh and his two associates along with a Scorpio vehicle on Tuesday night. According to the complaint, the accused, posing as a reporter from a private channel, was demanding ₹37 lakh from Dr. Amit Khare. The accused had threatened that a girl was going to file an FIR against him under the rape and POCSO Act. Conversation started on WhatsApp call from Feb 27 Amit Khare told police that on February 27, he received a WhatsApp call on his mobile. The caller identified himself as Praveen Singh and said he knew his friend Abhishek Pandey. After this, continuous conversations started between the two. On February 28, Praveen Singh called again and informed that a girl was preparing to file a rape FIR against him. He also said that he could stop this FIR from being filed. Demand reduced from ₹37 lakhs to ₹10 lakhs On March 1, the accused called again and said that the girl was coming from Nagpur. If you want to escape, arrange ₹37 lakh. Later during the conversation, he reduced the amount to ₹25 lakhs and then to ₹10 lakh rupees. Accused arrived at Kachpura Bridge to collect money On March 9, the accused called again, demanding ₹10 lakh and giving time until Friday. During talks on Tuesday evening, it was decided to meet at Kachpura Bridge. Around 9 PM, Amit Khare arrived to give the money. As soon as Amit Khare handed over the bag filled with money to Praveen Singh, the police, who were already present, surrounded and caught all three accused. The accused had arrived at the spot in a Scorpio. Mic ID and liquor bottle found in Scorpio Police also found a news channel’s mic ID and a liquor bottle from the accused’s Scorpio. During the arrest, the accused was trying to pressure the police by claiming to be a reporter. Claims to be connected with gang from outside the city During interrogation, the accused revealed that he did this work on the instructions of a gang from outside the city. Police are now gathering information about other members of the gang. Sanjeevani Nagar Police Station has registered a case against Praveen Singh and his two associates under sections 308(1), 308(6) and 3(5) and started an investigation. According to Station In-charge BD Dwivedi, police are also searching for the girl whom the accused kept mentioning repeatedly.