Surat: Serial offender trying to extort Rs 50 lakh as "election fund" arrested

A serial offender was arrested Thursday for allegedly trying to extort Rs 50 lakh as "election fund" from a diamond merchant here, said police. The accused, Savan Gadhia (33), even threatened to kill the diamond merchant's son if he does not receive the money, said a release by the Surat Crime Branch.

Gadhia had been arrested on multiple occasions in the past for various crimes such as consuming liquor, assault and intimidation, said the release. In his complaint to the Crime Branch on April 10, the 45-year-old diamond merchant, Talshi Koshia, alleged an unidentified person had called him on his mobile phone and demand Rs 50 lakh towards "election fund". The accused even intercepted the complainant on April 8 and claimed he is the henchman of one Mumbai-based "Ranabhai". He then asked Koshia to give Rs 50 lakh towards election fund. Gadhia even threatened to kill Koshia's son if he does not get the money, said the release.

On receiving the complaint, Crime Branch sleuths zeroed in on Gadhia, a resident of Surat, and arrested him Thursday, it said. Investigations have revealed he was reeling under a debt of Rs 38 lakh, which he had incurred due to his failed business venture. He came in contact with Koshia's son six months back and managed to get vital details about the diamond merchant's family and their wealth. Gadhia then hatched a plan to extort money from Koshia in the name of election fund, the release added.

(With inputs from agencies.)