Kannada news channel CEO arrested for blackmailing

CEO of Kannada news channel 'Janashri news' Laxmiprasad Vajapai, was arrested on charges of blackmail.

Following the complaint of a business man, a case was registered at the Koramangala Police Station under Section 384 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) wherein Vajapai, 42-year-old, was demanding Rs. 10 crore money as ransom and threatened if it is not fulfilled a derogatory episode would be broadcast on his channel.

A brief episode was aired to threaten the business man.

The premises of the channel was raided when the complainant had handed over the first installment of money, which was seized and the accused Vajapai and Mithun (who had received the money) were arrested.

Another case was registered against Vajapai and his associates under Sections 384, 385, 506 and 34 of the IPC for extortion of Rs. 10 crore and jewellery worth Rs. 30 lakhs from one more businessman.

In this case Vajapai had received the ransom through a bank transaction in the name of various entities.

The total demand was made for Rs.15 crore.

There is another FIR pending against Vajapai and others under Section 507, 34 and 385 of the IPC dated March 22, for extortion using same modus operandi.

The modus operandi of Vajapai was that he will initially air some negative content about the selected business man and then contact the same person with threat that he has more records and information which he will air on his channel and destroy his business and reputation.

Then he will put across his demand and extort the ransom.

South East Division police are probing his antecedents and involvement in any other such case of extortions.

Upon arrest, Vajapai was produced before Jurisdictional Magistrate and police custody for five days has been awarded where as his associate Mithun has been sent to judicial custody.

Relevant Arms act sections were also included because the private gunmen of said Vajapai had shown the revolver to the victim and all these four gunmen of Uttar Pradesh origin were also arrested.

Therefore, total five out of six accused are remanded to judicial custody and Vajapai is given to the police custody till April 19.

Further investigation is underway.