Surat: A 58-year-old embroidery businessman has lodged an extortion complaint alleging that he was blackmailed with a sexually explicit video after being lured to Mumbai and drugged by a group of accused. The Pandesara police have registered a case against four persons, including two women, and launched an investigation.According to the complaint, the victim runs an embroidery unit in Pandesara GIDC. One of the accused, Dhaval Akbari, allegedly owed him Rs 2.28 crore towards job work payments. When the dues remained unpaid, Akbari, along with Dipak Bukat and Asha Hirapara, allegedly conspired to call the businessman to Mumbai on the pretext of settling the outstanding amount.The victim stated that during the meeting, he was given a cold drink allegedly laced with a sedative. After he lost consciousness, the accused purportedly recorded a sexual video of him with an unidentified woman arranged by them. The complainant alleged that the accused then threatened to make the video viral and implicate him in a rape case if he insisted on recovering his dues.Under pressure, the businessman allegedly transferred ownership of his bungalow in Vesu, valued at Rs 4.51 crore, as well as plots in Kamrej and Bardoli worth Rs 56 lakh. The accused also allegedly took Rs 1.12 crore that had been paid to him as consideration for the property transfers. Despite this, they continued to demand more money while threatening to circulate the video.Unable to bear the alleged harassment and repeated threats, the victim approached the Pandesara police and filed a formal complaint.Pandesara police inspector J R Chaudhary said, “We are examining whether the accused have cheated others in a similar manner. We are also trying to identify the unknown woman who was allegedly called to Mumbai for the meeting,” he said.
