Pune: In a shocking incident, a driver working for a Pune-based businessman attempted to extort ₹10 lakh by threatening to defame him and harm his family. The Bibwewadi police arrested the accused after a well-planned trap.

Extortion Attempt via Threat Calls

According to the police, the accused, identified as Amit Dattatray Thopte, was employed by businessman Gaurav Pramod Dugad. Exploiting his employer’s trust, Thopte gained access to Dugad’s father’s mobile phone and sent obscene messages to his own number. He then took screenshots and used them as blackmail, threatening to make them viral unless he received ₹10 lakh.

Adding to the pressure, the accused also threatened to harm Dugad’s family if his demands were not met.

Police Plan & Arrest the Accused

Shocked by the threats, Gaurav Dugad immediately approached the Bibwewadi police and filed a complaint. Taking the matter seriously, the police devised a strategy to catch the accused red-handed.

The police advised Dugad to engage with the extortionist, pretending to agree to the demands. As per the plan, the accused contacted Dugad again and instructed him to drop off the money at a specified location. In response, the police arranged dummy currency notes and a decoy to deliver the money.