Mumbai: The city crime branch arrested a 31-year-old woman who had lodged an FIR of alleged rape and got a Ahmedabad-based businessman arrested and later demanded Rs 4 crore to withdraw her complaint. Her Delhi-based lawyer was also arrested, police said.The anti-extortion cell of the city police in the wee hours of Saturday arrested Nivedita Apul Sharma and her advocate Sahityaraj Mishra (27) on the charges of extortion, blackmailing, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation. Both were produced before the Holiday Court and were remanded to two days police custody.Police said that the duo was caught accepting Rs 45 lakh during a trap laid near a hotel. The complainant is a a 32-year-old real estate agent from Gujarat, who told police that the woman who had got his brother in law arrested, was threatening and demanding huge amount to withdraw her rape complaint. Police allege that she subsequently demanded Rs 4 crore for withdrawing the case and later agreed to settle the matter for Rs 2.5 crore.The police said the alleged demands were made through phone calls, several of which were recorded by the complainant’s brother-in-law. During one conversation, Sharma allegedly threatened that the complainant would remain in jail unless the money was paid. On Aug 14, Sharma allegedly informed the complainant that she would come to Juhu to collect the extortion money. The anti-extortion squad laid a trap and allegedly caught her while accepting Rs 45 lakh. The investigation also led police to Mishra, who was allegedly staying at a Juhu hotel with Sharma. He was arrested at around 12.14 am on Aug 15.Police said they seized Rs 45 lakh, three mobile phones and a car. The police have also declared Basit Khan wanted. Police have cited a previous criminal case registered against Sharma in Goa under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including extortion-related provisions.
