Crime branch seeks 7-day remand for extortionists

A metropolitan court has adjourned the city crime branch’s plea seeking seven-day remand of the two extortionists till Monday. The duo, Jayesh Shah and Dilip Motwani, had been arrested by the city crime branch for demanding Rs10 lakh from Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) officials.

According to the police complaint, the duo had demanded money for withdrawing objection affidavits from the Mumbai high court against the merger of RIL and Reliance Petroleum Limited (RPL). Special prosecutor, Sudhir Brahmbhatt, has submitted in the court that both the accused had moved affidavits on instructions of one Minesh Patel of Mumbai. Looking at the serious nature of the crime and the necessity to undertake thorough investigation, the presence of the accused is necessary, said Brahmbhatt, adding as the police want to take the two to Mumbai for further investigation.

On the other hand, Chetan Raval and Vijay Patel, who appeared on behalf of the accused countered with the argument that the duo had never made any extortion demands. The RIL official had approached them for a settlement and the duo had denied. After hearing arguments from the both sides, metropolitan magistrate, SM Segal, deferred the hearing till Monday and ordered sending both accused to the Sabarmati jail.