PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
A businessman from Rishikesh has allegedly received a threat from an international number with the caller claiming to be a member of the Rohit Godara gang. The caller reportedly demanded Rs 50 lakh as extortion money. The victim Ravi Gupta has filed a complaint with Rishikesh police station and sought protection for his family.
According to the complaint, Gupta received a WhatsApp call on June 6. The caller claimed to be a member of the notorious gangster Rohit Godara’s gang. During the conversation, the caller reportedly mentioned Gupta’s home address and details of his children’s school. He then allegedly threatened him and asked him to keep Rs 50 lakh ready by Monday evening.
Gupta told police that the caller appeared to be trying to frighten him and his family in order to extort money. He requested the police to investigate the matter and take action against those responsible. The police have started looking into the complaint.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Godara gang has been linked to several extortion and criminal cases in Rajasthan and other States. Originally from Rajasthan, Godara is a wanted gangster who has been named in multiple cases, including extortion, murder and organised crime. His name has also surfaced in investigations related to the killings of gangster Raju Thehat, Karni Sena leader Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi and Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
Police in different States have carried out operations against members of the gang in recent years. Reports have also linked the gang to extortion calls made to businessmen, doctors and traders from international numbers. Officials said that the Rishikesh police has lodged an FIR and started investigating whether the threat received has any direct connection with the gang or was made using its name to create fear.
