Senior citizen attempts to extort Goregaon firm CEO for Rs 10 cr, lands in jail

Accused pretended to be linked to Director General Excise (Intelligence)

It's the age of retirement for most, but 60-year-old Ravindra Kumar Khera seems to have no such plan. According to a complaint filed by Sunaina Gandhi (name changed), 35, CEO of a Goregaon-based digital production firm, after discovering one of her partners' financial indiscretion, he attempted to extort Rs 10 crore out of her under the guise of being linked to Director General Excise (Intelligence). So convincing was the con that he even managed to collect Rs 10 lakh from her.

Financial conundrum
According to the police, the complainant is the CEO of a company that has contracts with over two dozen cellphone majors. Around a year ago, she learnt that another female partner has committed some financial misappropriation from company funds for personal gains.

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Then in August, she was contacted by Khera who told her that they had complaints in regard to the matter with various government departments, including Income Tax, Registrar of Companies and Serious Fraud Investigations, etc.

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"He first offered to settle the issue by using his influence with senior officials of Director General of Central Excise (Intelligence) for Rs 10 crore. Later, he threatened her that if he doesn't get the money, then he will provide details to the vigilance agencies and create trouble for her," said a crime branch source.

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The scared complainant fell for his stories and in November last year, gave him R10 lakh cash.

However, when Khera demanded the rest of the money, she kept avoiding him. Later, frustrated, Gandhi approached the police on Sunday and lodged an FIR.

Arrested same day
Acting on the specific information, crime branch officials arrested Khera from Goregaon. An officer said, "Investigators are analysing his phone call details to get more information on his associates, if any."