Jailed Gujarat journalist faces new FIR for extortion

The FIR, filed astatine Satellite constabulary presumption successful Ahmedabad, was based connected a ailment by Janak Arjun Thakor, 32, a husbandman and onshore broker based successful Daskroi, Ahmedabad.

The FIR stated that successful 2020, Thakor came successful interaction with a antheral named Mukesh Bharwad, besides a societal activistic and onshore broker “like him”. About one-and-a-half years ago, during 1 of his meetings with him astatine a java store successful Bodakdev, Bharwad introduced him to Langa. The FIR stated that Langa introduced himself arsenic “a antheral with governmental connections and a elder adjunct exertion with a salient regular newspaper”. Langa allegedly told Thakor that he, too, was progressive successful the onshore brokerage business, according to the FIR. It stated that Langa told him that helium was alert of respective disputed properties that helium could assistance Thakor acquisition astatine a cheaper complaint “due to his influence”. The FIR accused Langa of telling Thakor that helium earned 5-10% commissions connected specified properties.

Langa allegedly asked Thakor to bring “any specified matters” to him, assuring that helium would springiness the broker a stock of the commissions, the FIR said. Thakor alleged that Langa besides promised to marque him a salient builder and assistance him bring retired an IPO for his company. Thakor besides claimed that helium gave Langa currency connected a fig of occasions.

In January 2024, Langa allegedly told Thakor that “he was preparing a communicative connected GIFT City successful Gandhinagar for The Hindu newspaper”, the FIR stated. Langa promised to notation Thakor successful this story, assuring him that it would assistance onshore him amended deals. Thakor stated successful the FIR that helium kept giving Langa wealth whenever helium asked for it. The FIR alleged Thakor had by past paid Langa astir Rs 20 lakh. Thakor alleged that his sanction and “social activism” appeared successful a communicative published connected January 26, 2024. After this, the FIR stated, Langa’s behaviour towards Thakor changed and helium demanded different Rs 20 lakh from him successful lieu of work of his sanction successful the story. When Thakor refused, Langa allegedly threatened him citing his “influence” and publishing mendacious articles against him, the FIR stated, adding that connected July 23, 2024, successful the fearfulness of suffering much losses, Thakor took a indebtedness of Rs 20 lakh and gave it to Langa.