4 held for garnet bizmen’s extortion, probationary IPS officer under lens

Bhilwara: Four people were arrested Sunday for allegedly extorting garnet businessmen in Kotdi area of Bhilwara district. Following the arrest and interrogation of accused, the role of probationer IPS officer Madhav Upadhyay has also come under scrutiny. Bhilwara superintendent of police Dharmendra Singh has ordered an investigation into the allegations.Kotdi police station in-charge Mahaveer Prasad Meena said the matter came to light on April 4 after constable Arjun Ram reported that some individuals were intimidating garnet entrepreneurs in their beat areas and extorting Rs 30,000 per machine. A case was registered and an investigation initiated.During the probe, police arrested four men who were identified as Ajay Panchal, Nand Singh, Narayan Gurjar and Kalu Gurjar. They allegedly told the garnet businessmen that they could continue their operations without interference in exchange for money.Among the four arrested, Ajay Panchal was said to be close to Jahazpur BJP MLA Gopichand Meena. Responding to this, the MLA said that Panchal was a party worker who worked during the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, and after that he was doing his own business. The MLA denied any connection with the extortion allegations. The MLA, however accused probationer IPS officer Madhav Upadhyay of extorting money from garnet businessmen. He said that BJP workers from his constituency had complained to him of Upadhyay and his team of carrying out extortion in the name of action against illegal garnet operations. He added that he had raised the issue with SP Dharmendra Singh, following which the arrests were made.Meanwhile, Upadhyay has denied the allegations, calling them baseless. He said Ajay Panchal acted only as his informer and he had taken action based on inputs received from him. He maintained he had no role in any extortion. He added that after his posting in Bhilwara district, he carried out the maximum action against illegal garnet operations in the Kotdi area.SP Dharmendra Singh said a case has been registered and an investigation was underway to determine who was involved in the matter.