In a significant crackdown on digital extortion, the Malad Police have apprehended a man accused of systematically blackmailing small-scale traders in Mumbai's western suburbs. The accused, identified as Sanjay Yadav, allegedly used the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to threaten and extort money from local business owners.
The Modus Operandi of the Accused
According to police officials, Yadav, a resident of the Prem Nagar slum in Goregaon, targeted small suburban traders. His method involved posting damaging online complaints against their businesses on X. These posts were designed to tarnish the reputation of the traders, following which he would demand money to take them down. The First Information Report (FIR) was registered based on statements provided by several affected traders from the western suburbs, who came forward with their ordeal.
Swift Police Action and Arrest
After the FIR was lodged, a team from the Malad Police swiftly initiated an investigation. They tracked down the accused and placed him under arrest. The arrest has been made under the relevant provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, India's new penal code. This action highlights the police's commitment to tackling cyber-enabled crimes that target vulnerable small businesses.
Appeal for More Victims to Come Forward
Senior Inspector Dushyant Chavan of Malad police station has issued a public appeal in the wake of the arrest. He urged anyone else who may have been similarly harassed or blackmailed by the accused to approach the Malad Police station and file a formal complaint. "We want to make an appeal that anyone else who may have been similarly harassed or blackmailed by the accused should approach the Malad Police station and lodge a complaint with us," Chavan stated. This appeal aims to uncover the full extent of Yadav's alleged activities and ensure justice for all victims.
The case underscores the growing menace of social media blackmail and the importance of reporting such crimes to the authorities. It also serves as a warning to those attempting to exploit digital platforms for extortion, emphasizing that law enforcement is equipped to trace and prosecute such offences under stringent laws.
