Ambazari police arrested a phony journalist who threatened a cafe owner to share a video of his cafe and news related to it. The journalist demanded a hafta (protection money) of Rs 1 lakh from the owner. According to sources, the accused has also extorted money from a number of doctors in the same area by threatening them. The accused is identified as Mushtaq alias Munna Patel, a resident of Mahesh Nagar
Accused Munna went to Gokulpeth’s Sosha Cafe, claiming to be a journalist, and demanded 1 lakh by threatening to make a viral video from inside the cafe. The cafe’s manager panicked and gave him Rs 20,000.
On Friday the accused called the owners of Shosha Cafe and demanded 1 lakh and threatened to publish stories against the cafe if the money is not paid.
Based on the complaint filed by the manager of the cafe, Devendra Patle (29), the Ambazari police registered a case of extortion against the accused Munna under section 384, 385, 506 and ar- rested him. The police have seized a black wallet con- taining 11,220, a mobile phone and an identity card with India Today, Police News printed on it.
After a case was registered against fake journalist Munna, it has come to fore that he had also threatened some doctors in the area and extorted money from them. So the Ambazari police are investigating how many people have been targeted by the accused.
The action was taken under the guidance of senior PI of Ambazari police sta- tion Vinayak Golhe, by the team of Santosh Boyne, Rajesh Sonawane, Dinesh Juganahke, Ankush Ghati, Ujjwal Patekar and others.