Lucknow
Thirteen BJP MLAs from Uttar Pradesh and a former legislator have received extortion threat messages from a USA-registered number.
WhatsApp messages, written in Devanagari script, demanded Rs 10 lakh from around 12 MLAs, including those from Bulandshahr, Badayun, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Gonda, Bareilly, Kanpur Dehat, Barabanki and Lucknow.
According to a source in police, the messenger has identified himself as one Ali Baba Budhesh. He is an aide of Dawood Ibrahim based in Gulf country and has been been involved in the business of extortion.
“I am not here for long chats with you. I am Ali Budhesh Bhai. If you want safety of yourself and family then arrange for Rs 10 lakh within three days. I know you won’t arrange for money until you will one of your family members dead. My man is near you, don’t waste time,” the messages read.
On being asked to which account the ransom should be deposited to, the extortionist replied with a Bitcoin account number and asked to submit the amount to his Bitcoin account.
Meanwhile, the investigation of this matter has been handed over to the ATS along with STF. Speaking on the issue, spokesperson of UP Govt, Shrikant Sharma said, “Investigation will be done at all levels and no one will be spared if found guilty.”
An FIR has also been registered by Maholi (Sitapur) MLA Shashank Trivedi at Mahanagar Police Station in Lucknow under various sections. “Shashank Trivedi received the text messages on his WhatsApp number at around 2.30 am on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. An FIR had been registered against an unidentified person under IPC sections 384 for extortion, 507 for criminal intimidation through text messages and section 66 of Information Technology Act,” said inspector of Mahanagar police station Vikas Pandey.
Speaking on the issue, Deputy inspector general (DIG), law and order, Praveen Kumar said, “Local police teams and UP Special Task Force unit are probing the incident. The threats given to the MLAs were being reviewed and their security would be increased, if required. Primarily it seems some mischievous element is behind this entire episode.”
