Woman who accused Maharashtra minister of harassment arrested for extortion
What's the story
A woman who had accused Maharashtra minister Jaykumar Gore of harassment has been arrested for extortion. She was nabbed while she was accepting money, reported news agency PTI. The woman, whose name hasn't been released yet, was arrested in the Satara district of Maharashtra. She had reportedly demanded ₹3 crore to compromise the case filed over her allegations against Gore.
Past allegations
Allegations against Gore and his acquittal
Gore was accused of harassment and sending lewd photos to a woman in 2017. The BJP leader denied the charges and claimed he was acquitted by a 2019 court. The court also directed the destruction of seized material in the case. Opposition leaders have continued to demand Gore's resignation over the allegations despite his acquittal.
Plan revealed
Extortion plan uncovered by police
The woman was caught red-handed while accepting ₹1cr of the total amount she allegedly demanded. Cops have recovered audio recordings from March 17 and 19, in which she discussed her extortion plan with her lawyer. Arun Devkar, inspector at Satara's local crime branch, said Gore had asked for more time to arrange the money due to the large sum involved.
Political fallout
Political implications and questions raised
The incident has triggered a political controversy, with opposition leaders asking why money was paid to the woman in the first place. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar questioned where the money came from, and why it was needed. "₹3 crore is a huge sum. Why was ₹1 crore given to the woman? What did she have in her possession that required that she be paid money?"