Ahmedabad: A businessman from Anand filed a police complaint on Sunday alleging an extortion attempt by a person claiming to be a senior journalist. The incident occurred on May 28 at a biomedical waste management facility in Uttarsanda village, Nadiad, operated by 68-year-old Jagdish Patel, a doctor.According to Patel, the facility has been operating on a rented land since 2013 under a lease agreement with a private party. Around 11am on May 28, Patel was at the unit and left for his residence around 1pm. Later that afternoon, around 3.15pm, an employee informed him that five persons in a white vehicle without a number plate entered the premises and began recording a video.One of the individuals identified himself as “journalist Sunil Brahmbhatt”. He reportedly told Patel over the phone that the unit was in a residential area and that locals were objecting to it. Patel advised him to return when he was present at the facility. The group then left the premises.Later, around 6.15pm, Patel received a call from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and questioned the unit’s operation. The caller said that a mediaperson had made a complaint. Patel sought an appointment to discuss if any official action was required, but the person refused and disconnected the call. Patel’s unit manager then contacted Brahmbhatt, who allegedly threatened that unless the unit was shut down, he would give it negative coverage. Patel accused Brahmbhatt of making extortion threats and trying to defame his legally operated business.Vadtal police on Sunday registered a complaint under charges of criminal intimidation, illegal trespass and attempted extortion against Brahmbhatt and the unidentified persons who accompanied him. MSID:: 121571801 413 |
