Two booked for extortion through fake pollution videos

Surat: Sachin GIDC police booked two persons for extortion of Rs 10 lakh from three companies.
Chairman of Sachin Notified Area (SNA), Mahendra Ramoliya, filed a complaint against accused duo, Jitu Medhe and Raju Bharwad, who tried to extort by making fake videos and sending these to the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) for punitive actions.
The duo tried to extort money from Globe Enviro, Sachin Infa and Colortex by claiming that these firms were releasing effluents in the sewer meant for rain water.
According to the FIR, Mahendra Ramoliya, who runs a textile unit in Sachin GIDC, got a call from Jigna Oza, an official in the GPCB regional office on May 25 apprising him that she has received a video of effluent outlets of three companies. She said that two of her colleagues were trying to find the site of pollution and as they were unable to find the exact spot, Oza sought Ramoliya’s help as he is the chairman of the SNA.
When Ramoliya reached the spot, a person named Jitu Medhe identified himself as a journalist from Swaraj Garjana news. Medhe asked him to arrange for Rs 10 lakh from the three companies in order to avoid being harassed by him.
When Ramoliya refused, Medhe threatened him of dire consequences. After the threats, Ramoliya filed a complaint with Sachin GIDC against Medhe and another person Raju Bharwad.
During investigating, police found out that both conspired to extort the money from three companies with fake videos.
The duo had sent fake videos of other sites too to extort money. Cops booked the duo for extortion and criminal intimidation.