Firoz Siddique, the man who had released Antagarh-poll fixing tapes and done other sting operations, was arrested from his house on the charge of extortion and blackmailing, police said here on Tuesday.
“Siddiqui was arrested on the charges of black mailing and extortion on the complaint lodged by one Pappu Farishta of Raipur” Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Arif Sheikh Hussein told reporters.
According to the complainant, Siddiqui had made an alleged sting-video clip in the year 2018 and was demanding from him Rs 1.90 crore for not releasing it.
“The victim had paid Rs 25 lakh in separate installments. When, the victim was unable to pay more money, the accused had released the sting-video clip on many WhatsApp groups,” the SSP said.
The complainant alleged that Siddiqui had made his video clip during assembly polls 2018 when he met him. During the meeting Siddiqui had promised him to provide information of some prominent political persons of the state acquired through stings for publishing in Pappu’s newspaper.
Police on intervening night of Monday and Tuesday had raided the houses of Siddiqui at Civil Lines and three other places located at Telibandha, Mana camp and Katora Talab localities of the state capital Raipur.
Police have seized a computer, CDs, pen-drives, hard-drives and others from his places. The seized items will be sent to forensic lab for further examination.
Police will take action against anybody involved in the blackmailing and extortion, the SSP asserted.
The SSP made it clear that Siddiqui has been arrested on the charges of blackmailing and extortion and it is not related to 2014 Antagarh by-poll fixing case.