Six booked for extorting from builder

Surat: Sarthana police booked a group of property developers and brokers on Monday for their alleged involvement in extortion and threatening of a city-based builder. The complaint was lodged by Ashwin Chovatiya in Sola police station of Ahmedabad which was later transferred to the city.
Chovatiya had consumed excessive sleeping pills with an intention to end life on February 28 in Ahmedabad and was later admitted to the SGVP Hospital.
Cops booked Guddu Poddar, Jignesh Sakhiya, Jayanti Babariya, Paresh Vadodariya, Rajni Kabariya and Dhiru Hirpara for the alleged extortion bid. They have been booked under various sections of The Gujarat Money Lenders Act.
In his complaint, Chovatiya, a resident of Mota Varachha area, described that he developed an apartment project Sahjanand Prasth in Mota Varachha in 2017. He was approached by Vadodariya, Kabariya and Hirpara and claimed that they have a buyer Guddu Poddar who would buy his 10 flats.
Initially, Chovatiya did not enter into any deal but later finalised to give 10 flats on sale chit. Of the 10 flats, Poddar later sold three flats to Babariya. When Babariya approached Chovatiya to make a sale deed they developed payment disputes. Later Babariya and other accused started threatening Chovatiya for the flats ownership and money.
In his FIR, Chovatiya claimed that he borrowed money from Sakhiya and despite repayment he was tortured by the accused. Ultimately, facing harassment by the accused Chovatiya went to Ahmedabad and attempted suicide.
In his suicide note, Chovatiya requested the Ahmedabad police to investigate and alleged that the accused used to claim that Surat police is with them. “After registering the complaint police have started an investigation in the case. A police team will visit the complainant to Ahmedabad to record his statement,” said a police officer.