Fourth case in 12 days against Pramod Bhagchandani, extortion FIR at Jaripatka police station

Nagpur. Jaripatka police have registered a case of extortion against Pramod Bhagchandani, who is accused of blackmailing citizens after obtaining information on illegal construction through RTI applications. It is the fourth case against Bhagchandani in the past 12 days. With complainants coming forward one after another, Bhagchandani and his associates are said to be rattled.

The complainant in the latest case, Ravishankar Kewalramani, is a garment trader. He lives in Jaripatka. According to the allegation, in June 2019 Bhagchandani told Kewalramani that he had carried out illegal construction in his house, that a complaint had been received about it and that the construction could be demolished. He then threatened Kewalramani and took Rs 45,000 from him. Because of the fear Bhagchandani and his associates inspired in the Jaripatka area, Kewalramani did not file a complaint at the time.

After a case was registered at Panchpaoli police station, Kewalramani contacted other people. Many told him that they too were victims. He then lodged a complaint at Jaripatka police station. Police have registered a case of extortion and begun an investigation.

Bhagchandani is alleged to have been involved in extortion and blackmail since 2004. With the help of associates, he would obtain through RTI applications details of citizens' alleged illegal constructions and then collect money from them. A YouTuber and a blackmailer linked to a major Marathi newspaper are also said to be part of the long-running racket. Bhagchandani allegedly provided special services to the newspaper's blackmailer, because of which the truth about his racket was being suppressed even after cases were registered. He was also feared at the municipal corporation and the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), and several officials there are alleged to be partners in his blackmailing. He is also said to extort money from citizens in return for reducing their property tax. He has reportedly built up considerable wealth through extortion.

The racket came to light on September 20, when a case was registered for collecting money from Suraj Swami, tax inspector of the municipal corporation's Asi Nagar zone, while abusing him with casteist slurs. Even after that case was filed, Bhagchandani is alleged to have gone to the office and threatened Swami with casteist abuse. A second case followed. A third case was then registered against Bhagchandani and his associates at Sitabuldi police station.

Money transfer racket in Dubai: A major hawala operator in Itwari is said to be Bhagchandani's helper. The operator had earlier been caught red-handed melting coins. He is alleged to have also run a counterfeit note racket, with Bhagchandani's help, under the guise of exchanging old, torn notes. At his behest, Bhagchandani had filed RTI applications in several departments. The hawala operator recently has a large money transfer racket in Dubai. If the ED and the DRI investigate in this direction, the truth could emerge.