Devraj Sakhiya, the BJP president of Rajkot district, was booked by police for extortion and abetting a factory owner for suicide.
The deceased Ramesh Gamdha consumed poison allegedly due to harassment from Sakhiya and his accomplices for extortion. The incident came into light as the family members of Gamdha refused to accept his body after post-mortem till a complaint to be registered against the politician by the local police on Wednesday afternoon.
Gamdha’ wife Jigna alleged that her husband committed suicide following extreme pressure of extortion and filed complaint before the Rajkot rural SP against Sakhiya and his accomplices. According to her the accused were harassing her husband despite the fact he repaid loan.
The accused allegedly forced the factory owner to sign sale-agreements for the land that he and his family members owned, including houses and shops. They also allegedly forced him to sign blank cheques, promissory notes and blank stamp papers. They also took away one kg gold belonging to the family of deceased and threatened to kill his two nephews if he did not give more money.
According to the police based on the complaint filed by the victim’s wife, the police booked Sakhiya and other accused under IPC Sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 387 (putting person in fear of death in order to extort money), 384 (punishment for extortion), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 506 (2) (criminal intimidation) and 114 (common intent).
On the other hand the BJP leader said that he has nothing to do with the case as he was not associated with any sort of financing or recovery of the amount. He claimed that his political rivals were trying to defame him by unnecessarily involving him in the case.