Bhubaneswar: Six people were arrested today by the Commissionerate Police on charges of extortion while posing as journalists of a web news channel, here.
Briefing the media, Bhubaneswar DCP Uma Shankar Das said that there have been a few similar incidents in the past with the most recent being extortion from a clarified butter (ghee) manufacturing unit in Tomando area under Khandagiri police limits on October 24.
He said, “The group posing as journalists forcefully entered the premises of the ghee unit and threatened the owner. They demanded money in exchange for not posting negative news. The owner transferred online the amounts of Rs 99,000 and Rs 31,000 in two separate instances.”
DCP added that the group had set-up web channels but had not registered the same. He clarified that the sole purpose of this group was to threaten and extort money while posing as journalists. Accordingly, six people were arrested and forwarded to court today. Two cars, four motorcycles, 31,000 in cash, mobiles phone were seized from them and raids are underway on their offices, said Das.
“We are trying to ascertain who else was involved in this extortion racket. I request to inform us in case you come to know of any unregistered web channels or cases of extortions,” said Bhubaneswar DCP Uma Shankar Das.
