Ex-JD(U) MP receives extortion call, FIR lodged

Former-JD(U) MP Purnamashi Ram received extortion demand for Rs five crore from an anonymous caller and has lodged an FIR in Bihar's Bagaha police district.
"I received call on mobile number 9934552194 last evening during which an anonymous person asked me to pay Rs five crore and get two persons arrested in an earlier case of extortion demand released," Ram told PTI on phone from Bagaha today.
He said that the anonymous caller threatened to eliminate him and his family members if he failed to meet the twin demand within a week.
Ram, an ex-JD(U) MP from Gopalganj Lok Sabha seat and presently a member of Congress, said that it was beyond his comprehension as to why ransom call has been made to him and added that he was not a man with big financial assets.

Ram said that he has spoken to the Bagaha police district's Superintendent of Police (SP) Hari Prasath S and apprised him details of extortion call made to him.
The former MP said that he will meet the Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi upon his return from London later this week to seek adequate security in view of frequent extortion calls being made to him as he feared for own life and that of his family members.

Ram said that he has lodged an FIR at Pathkauli police outpost in connection with ransom demands made to him by anonymous caller.
Confirming the incident, the Bagaha SP said that a probe was on in this connection.

The latest extortion call was second within a month that Ram has received on his cell number from anonymous callers.
He had lodged complaint against earlier extortion demands with the police and two persons were arrested in this connection.