LUDHIANA: The CIA unit of Ludhiana city police has arrested Rajiv Raja in connection with a Rs 30 lakh extortion case involving a city-based businessman. Raja is a close associate of BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu, the Minister of State for Railways and Minister of State for Food Processing Industries.
Raja was previously a district president for Youth Congress and remained closely associated with Bittu when the latter was in Congress. After Bittu joined the BJP, Raja left Congress but did not formally join the BJP. However, he continued to be associated with Bittu.
Two days ago, Division Number 8 police registered an FIR under sections 308(4) (punishment for extortion) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint by 37-year-old businessman Ravish Gupta, a resident of Mall Enclave. Gupta reported that he had been receiving multiple WhatsApp calls and messages from an international number demanding ₹30 lakh. The sender allegedly threatened to kill him if he failed to pay.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation) Amandeep Singh Brar confirmed the arrest, stating, “The police arrested Rajiv Raja today, while three other accused had already been arrested. Further investigation is ongoing.”
When asked whether Raja was the main conspirator behind the extortion call, ADCP Brar said, “It is being verified.”
Payal Dhawan is a senior correspondent with the Times of India Ne...
Read MorePayal Dhawan is a senior correspondent with the Times of India Newspaper, based in Ludhiana, Punjab since 2013. She covers crime, police administration, prisons, vigilance bureau and NIA. She also writes on weapon culture in Punjab, various gangs and jail inmates besides other issues.
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