Indore: The accused, who were arrested for abetting suicide of spiritual guru Bhaiyyu Maharaj, have reportedly extorted more that Rs 60 lakh after blackmailing Maharaj for implicating in a fake case. Accused Palak was harassing Maharaj to marry her while demanding money.
Deputy General of Police Harinarayanachari Mishra said Palak Puranik of Sudama Nagar, Vinayak Dudhale of Sukhaliya (permanent resident of Lonihaveli in Ahmadnagar district) and Sharad Rao of Balapur in Akola district were arrested on Friday. They were booked under Sections 306, 384, 120-B of IPC.
The three accused were produced before the court on Friday and sent to jail. After suicide case of Bhaiyyu Maharaj, the investigation was done by CSP Manoj Rantnakar who could not find reason behind Maharaj’s stress. Police claimed that statements of many people including family members were recorded at that time but no one cooperated with police due to which the main reason behind the Maharaj’s stress could not be established.
The matter was again opened when three person were arrested by MIG police station staff in connection with threatening his legal adviser Nivesh Badjatya for Rs 5 crore. Then, the police arrested on Kailash Patil, who is the former driver of Maharaj. He had revealed that Maharaj was being harassed and blackmailed by Palak and others for money due to which he was under depression and he took such an extreme step.
The investigation was handed over to IPS officer Agam Jain and later the investigation was done by ASP Prashant Choubey and DSP Pallavi Shukla. It was revealed, prima facie, found Palak, Vinayak and Sharad accused in the case. DIG Mishra said during the investigation of case mobile data, CDR and other data were recovered through which police came to know that accused were harassing Maharaj. During investigation, about 125 people were questioned and the statements of 28 persons were recorded.
Additional Superintendent of Police Prashant Choubey said that Palak and other accused had extorted lakhs of rupees from Maharaj after blackmailing citing Dati Maharaj’s case. Palak had also reportedly taken Rs 40 lakh from Maharaj during her elder sister’s marriage. She allegedly took Rs 1.5 lakh many times. Police investigation of lands worth Rs 400 crore in Betul is being done by the STF and city police also sought the case file to know the role of Maharaj’s close person Manmeet and others into the case.
