Rajkot man accuses 7 of assault, extortionate lending

Rajkot: A 28-year-old man, Dharmesh Siddhpura, lodged a complaint at Taluka police station in Rajkot against Prashant Taraviya, his father Shailesh Taraviya and five others — Karan Pethani, Yes Limbasiya, Sahil Gajipara, Prabhat Ahir and Yash Khunt — for assault, criminal intimidation, illegal moneylending and forcing him to sign an agreement to sell his flat. Police registered an offence under Sections 115(2), 137(2), 308(5), 352 and 127(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of the Gujarat Money Lenders Act and Arms Act. According to the FIR, Siddhpura said that around two months ago he had gone to Taraviya's garage to get his car washed. There, he mentioned that he needed Rs 3 lakh for business. Taraviya offered to lend him the money on interest. Siddhpura offered his car as collateral and agreed to provide a cheque. On Oct 18, Taraviya called him to the garage saying the money was ready. When he arrived, Prashant Taraviya, Yes Limbasiya and Karan Pethani were there. He was allegedly given Rs 2.40 lakh in cash and told that Rs 15,000 had been deducted in advance as 5% interest, while the remaining Rs 45,000 would be paid later. A month later, Taraviya demanded repayment and said Rs 60,000 had been deducted as 20% interest. Siddhpura protested, saying the rate agreed to was 5% and he could not pay such a high amount. Despite this, he transferred Rs 1 lakh online to Taraviya's account on Oct 29. However, the predatory behaviour continued. The complainant stated that on Dec 6, he was called to the garage again, where Prashant Taraviya, Shailesh Taraviya and the others were present. Shailesh Taraviya allegedly told him to execute an agreement to sell his flat or repay the loan immediately. Siddhpura alleged that he was assaulted in the garage and then forcibly taken to a lawyer's office near Mawdi Chowk, where an agreement to sell his flat for Rs 3.50 lakh was drawn up and he was made to sign it under duress. He further said that Yash Khunt later took out a revolver-like firearm from a car, pointed it at his head and threatened to kill him if he failed to pay.