Rajkot: Upleta police have booked a local journalist for allegedly demanding Rs 2 lakh from a village sarpanch in Rajkot district.According to the FIR, complainant Bodu Sumra, sarpanch of Kharachiya village in Upleta taluka, alleged that journalist Ashish Lalkiya had sought panchayat records under the Right to Information (RTI) Act and later visited the office for inspection, during which an argument broke out between the two.The complaint states that a few days later, Lalkiya called Sumra to the Upleta Circuit House on the pretext of a settlement, where he allegedly demanded Rs 2 lakh to resolve the issue.When Sumra refused, Lalkiya allegedly threatened action against the village panchayat secretary and warned of filing a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau. He is also accused of issuing threats of serious consequences.Police have registered an offence under Sections 308(7), 352 and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
