Pune: A 21-year-old man was arrested and his 17-year-old accomplice detained by Pimpri Chinchwad crime branch on Wednesday for extorting Rs13 lakh from a student by blackmailing and threatening to kill him.It took place between July and Nov 2024. The student, who is now 19, approached the crime branch after the minor recently threatened him again and demanded more money. A case was registered with the Sangvi police. The student’s elder brother is the complainant in the case.Sub-inspector Navnath Jawale said, “The detained suspect has been sent to a correctional home. His friend (21), who works for a private company, accepted Rs 5 lakh of the extortion amount in his bank account. He has been remanded in police custody for two days.”“In July 2024, the detained minor approached the student and claimed he was aware of the student chatting with his sister on a social media platform, and had proof of their chat history and photographs. He demanded Rs30 lakh from the student for not lodging a police complaint. The minor threatened to kill him and his brother if he did not pay. The terrified student managed to collect Rs13 lakh, of which Rs5 lakh was transferred online to the arrested accused’s bank account. The remaining amount was paid in cash,” an officer from the crime branch said.“On Aug 18, when the student had gone to Pimple Saudagar for some work, the minor accused stopped him and claimed he still had the student’s chat records and photographs. He also claimed to be the “Bhai” of Kalewadi area and again demanded money, threatening to kill him if he did not pay within two days. The student informed his parents and then approached the police with his elder brother,” the officer added.PSI Jawale said the complainant’s father runs a business. “When the incident happened, the complainant’s brother and the accused were minors. We are investigating how the complainant’s brother managed to give Rs 13 lakh to the accused and what the accused did with the money.”
