Self-styled journalist arrested for extorting Rs 22 lakh from businessman

Surat: Udhana police have arrested a self-styled journalist for allegedly extorting Rs 22 lakh from a textile businessman by threatening municipal action against his factory shed.

The accused, Prakash Rathod, claimed to be editor of weekly Pavitra Darpan. He allegedly demanded Rs 30 lakh from the complainant, Alpesh Ghelani, who runs Avadh Fabrics in Laxminarayan Industries Estate, Udhna. Ghelani ultimately paid Rs 22 lakh in six instalments.

According to police, Rathod first approached Ghelani in January 2024 while construction work was underway on his plots numbered Z-210 to Z-215. Rathod took photographs of the site and threatened to get the construction razed by filing complaints with the Surat Municipal Corporation's (SMC) South Zone office and the district collector's Swagat portal.

Following repeated threats, Rathod allegedly settled the deal at Rs 25.21 lakh. Ghelani paid Rs 22 lakh but refused to pay the remaining Rs 3.21 lakh.

Rathod later filed a complaint with the SMC, prompting the civic body's demolition squad to issue a notice after inspecting the factory shed in December 2024.

Ghelani had meticulously documented each instalment paid to Rathod in a diary, with the accused's signature as acknowledgment. He submitted the diary to Udhna police as part of his complaint.

Udhana police inspector SN Desai told TOI: "We recovered an ID card from Rathod that identifies him as the editor of the weekly. We are verifying its authenticity. Preliminary investigation also suggests that Rathod distributed the extorted money among 25 bogus journalists. We will investigate their roles and take action against those found involved."