MUMBAI: Kirit Somaiya, former MP and BJP leader, on Sunday lodged a complaint of extortion with the Navghar police, saying he had received an email from an unknown person demanding Rs 50 lakh for not making public an explicit video featuring him.
A purported obscene video of Somaiya was aired on July 17 by Marathi channel Lokshahi.
No arrest has been made yet. In his FIR, Somaiya said he has exposed several corrupt persons and provided inputs to several central and state law-enforcing agencies.
Somaiya said his office secretary received the email and told him about it on Sunday morning. “Regarding your natural beauty without any clothing, I possess explicit videos of you. The previous leak was just a preview. The actual movie is still pending. To prevent the release of this movie, you must pay Rs 50 lakh. Alternatively, you can choose to become famous once again. Ultimately your desire will be fulfilled if you do not respond and the movie will be made public,” read the threat email in English.
The threat was sent from an email ID purportedly belonging to one Rushikesh Shukla. The cyber wing of the Navghar police station is gathering details of the internet protocol (IP) address of the mail sender.
In July, after a video allegedly featuring Somaiya in a purportedly intimate situation broadcast by a local TV channel went viral and the opposition led by Shiv Sena (UBT) made allegations of sexual harassment against him, deputy chief minister and home minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a high-level inquiry in the legislative council. The Mumbai crime branch was handed the inquiry.
On Friday, the I&B ministry ordered the Marathi news channel shut for 72 hours for airing the Somaiya video. The Delhi HC on Saturday allowed the channel to broadcast while listing further hearing this week.
A purported obscene video of Somaiya was aired on July 17 by Marathi channel Lokshahi.
No arrest has been made yet. In his FIR, Somaiya said he has exposed several corrupt persons and provided inputs to several central and state law-enforcing agencies.
Somaiya said his office secretary received the email and told him about it on Sunday morning. “Regarding your natural beauty without any clothing, I possess explicit videos of you. The previous leak was just a preview. The actual movie is still pending. To prevent the release of this movie, you must pay Rs 50 lakh. Alternatively, you can choose to become famous once again. Ultimately your desire will be fulfilled if you do not respond and the movie will be made public,” read the threat email in English.
The threat was sent from an email ID purportedly belonging to one Rushikesh Shukla. The cyber wing of the Navghar police station is gathering details of the internet protocol (IP) address of the mail sender.
In July, after a video allegedly featuring Somaiya in a purportedly intimate situation broadcast by a local TV channel went viral and the opposition led by Shiv Sena (UBT) made allegations of sexual harassment against him, deputy chief minister and home minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a high-level inquiry in the legislative council. The Mumbai crime branch was handed the inquiry.
On Friday, the I&B ministry ordered the Marathi news channel shut for 72 hours for airing the Somaiya video. The Delhi HC on Saturday allowed the channel to broadcast while listing further hearing this week.
