Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde had brain stroke due to extortion stress: Chargesheet

MUMBAI: Social justice minister Dhananjay Munde had suffered a brain stroke and was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on April 13 due to mental stress following harassment and extortion demands by the sister of his live-in partner, Karuna Sharma, the city crime branch chargesheet has said.
The chargesheet was filed against Renu Sharma for extortion on Saturday.
On April 20, the crime branch had arrested Renu from Indore in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly demanding Rs 5 crore from Munde. Police said Renu had no source of income, but her bank accounts reflected huge transactions. Police said one account opened in 2017 in the Oshiwara branch of a bank reflected a huge flow of money, and in February there was only Rs 6,652 balance.
Police also recorded the statement of an Indore-based developer who had deposed and said that in February, Renu had bought a duplex in BCM Park in Indore’s Nepenia Road for nearly Rs 54.2 lakh. They have attached documents claiming that she had bought the duplex from the extortion money.
Munde had earlier said that he gave Renu Rs 50 lakh and an iPhone via hawala. Two hawala operators have deposed and said that they had paid money to Renu in Indore on behalf of Munde.
“Due to continuous harassment and demand for extortion money, Munde underwent depression... He was hospitalized from April 12 to 16. The complainant got a brain stroke and was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital and got treated. We have attached his hospitalisation documents and his medical reports,” said the chargesheet.
It further said that Renu had tried to implicate Munde in a rape case by filing a false complaint with Oshiwara police. “Renu made this allegation to pressure Munde in the ongoing court dispute between Karuna and him, though she did not have any proof,” said an officer. “Last February, she again threatened Munde that if he failed to pay her cash, a shop, and a high-end phone, she would again file a rape complaint and would involve the names of senior party leaders, friends and relatives.”
Police said though Renu is the main accused, they have kept the probe open under the CrPC 173(8) and are looking for the role played by her close relatives in the alleged extortion case.