Civic tax inspector extorted with caste slurs, false case threat
Panchpaoli police have booked Pramod Bhagchandani for extortion after he threatened a municipal tax inspector using the RTI Act.
Nagpur: Panchpaoli police have registered a case of extortion and atrocity against Pramod Bhagchandani, who blackmails government officials and employees in the name of the RTI Act to extort money from them. Bhagchandani has gone underground since learning that a case had been filed against him. More of his victims are expected to come forward in the coming days.
Bhagchandani has been active since 2004. Under the RTI Act, he obtains information about government officials, employees and citizens, and extorts money by threatening to get illegal construction demolished. In 2009, he was caught red-handed for the first time while extorting a well-known city doctor by posing as an income tax officer. At the time, he was demanding 1 million rupees from the doctor. Since then, more cases of fraud and extortion have been registered against him.
The complainant in the latest case is Suraj Swami, a tax inspector at the Ashi Nagar zone office. Bhagchandani threatened Swami to get the property tax on a house reduced. He invoked the names of officials and influential people to pressure Swami into lowering the property tax. When Swami refused, Bhagchandani hurled caste slurs at him and threatened him. He also threatened to obtain information under the RTI Act and frame Swami in a false Anti Corruption Bureau case. Distressed by this, Swami filed a complaint at Panchpaoli police station.
After investigation, Panchpaoli police registered a case against Swami and the transporter who was pressuring him to reduce the property tax, under sections relating to extortion, atrocity, obstructing government work, and criminal intimidation.
Bhagchandani has been caught by the police after a long time. Several of his victims are still in the city. Zone 3 DCP Rahul Madne has appealed to citizens victimised by Bhagchandani to come forward and file complaints. Madne said Bhagchandani has been active for a long time and the cases registered against him are also being investigated.
