Pune: The Phursungi police on Friday registered a case of extortion against two reporters from an online news portal for allegedly threatening and demanding Rs 10 lakh from the owner of an edible oil company.According to police, the reporters threatened the businessman on Feb 25 and 26. The 24-year-old company owner, a resident of Ambegaon, subsequently lodged a complaint with the Phursungi police.The oil company is located on Katraj–Kondhwa Road, while the accused operate their news portal from an office in the Katraj area.Police said the duo had published a misleading online report alleging that the company’s edible oil was of poor quality. “However, they did not upload any supporting documents or evidence to substantiate the claims,” an officer from Phursungi police said.The reporters also uploaded a video showing the company’s office in Katraj. The footage reportedly included visuals of the premises where edible oil is manufactured and sold in cans and pouches.“After publishing the story, the duo called the company owner and demanded Rs 10 lakh to remove the link of the online story,” the officer added.
