Nagpur: An investigation into an alleged sextortion conspiracy has exposed the suspected operations of a Class 12 dropout who allegedly masqueraded as a lawyer, flaunted political connections in Uttar Pradesh and projected himself as a crusader for women facing sexual abuse. The accused, Aditya Suresh Gupta, is alleged to have orchestrated a plot to extort Rs 3 crore from a Rajasthan-based oil mill owner, using a woman as a purported complainant to implicate the businessman in a sexual exploitation case.
The investigation took a decisive turn after Gupta allegedly attempted to influence the police probe by offering Rs 30 lakh. Instead of securing the outcome he apparently sought, the offer brought his own activities under closer scrutiny and ultimately led to his arrest. He has since been remanded to Nagpur Central Jail.
Investigators are now examining the alleged network, the use of digital platforms to establish contact with potential victims and the circumstances in which the Rajasthan businessman was arrested before the alleged conspiracy came to light.
Fake legal identity allegedly used to win trust
A native of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, Gupta allegedly built his credibility by posing as a lawyer and claiming political connections. Investigators suspect that he cultivated a carefully constructed public image on social media, presenting himself as someone who helped women and girls who had suffered sexual abuse.
This image allegedly enabled him to gain the confidence of women approaching him for assistance. Police suspect that he subsequently exploited their information, contacts and personal circumstances to facilitate a wider blackmail operation.
According to investigators, Gupta allegedly directed people towards an app and used the resulting contacts and information to further his activities. Incriminating material allegedly linked to the racket was reportedly recovered from his mobile phone, which is expected to be an important source of evidence as the investigation progresses.
During questioning, Gupta reportedly admitted that he was not a lawyer and had failed his Class 12 examination. The alleged discrepancy between his claimed professional identity and educational background has become a significant aspect of the investigation into how he gained the confidence of those he approached.
Rajasthan businessman allegedly targeted for Rs 3 crore
One of the most serious allegations against Gupta concerns the Rajasthan-based oil mill owner, who was allegedly targeted in a planned extortion attempt.
According to the investigation, Gupta allegedly arranged accommodation in Nagpur’s Mominpura area for a woman from Chandrapur and used her to implicate the businessman in a sextortion case. Acting on the woman’s complaint, police arrested the businessman and remanded him to police custody.
However, further investigation reportedly raised doubts about the allegations against the businessman. Police suspect that Gupta had orchestrated the episode while pretending to be the woman’s well-wisher, with the alleged objective of extracting Rs 3 crore from the businessman.
The investigation is seeking to establish how the complaint was prepared, what role Gupta allegedly played in bringing the woman and businessman into contact, and whether any communications or financial transactions support the extortion theory.
The case has raised questions about the potential misuse of complaints involving sexual exploitation and the vulnerability of individuals caught in allegations that may have been deliberately engineered. The precise sequence of events and the respective roles of those involved will have to be established through evidence.
Rs 30-lakh offer turns investigation towards accused
Gupta allegedly compounded his difficulties by attempting to influence the investigation with an offer of Rs 30 lakh to Nagpur police. The alleged attempt to interfere with the probe instead intensified scrutiny of his activities and contributed to his arrest.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged offer and whether it was connected directly to the case involving the oil mill owner.
His arrest has shifted the focus from the original complaint to the suspected conspiracy behind it. Police are expected to scrutinise his communications, contacts and digital records to determine whether the alleged extortion attempt was an isolated incident or part of a broader pattern.
Family’s legal troubles and alleged theft at home
The investigation has also brought to light allegations concerning Gupta’s own family. His elderly parents and brother were reportedly facing legal difficulties following the suicide of a woman doctor in Pune a few months ago.
During this period, Gupta allegedly took advantage of the family’s absence to steal cash and valuable jewellery from his own house with the assistance of an accomplice. Investigators suspect that he subsequently used the proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle.
The alleged theft forms another strand of the case, with police examining the circumstances in which the valuables went missing and the possible involvement of the accomplice.
The episode has added another dimension to the allegations against Gupta, whose claimed public persona as a legal professional and advocate for women is now being scrutinised alongside allegations of extortion and theft.
Digital evidence may reveal extent of alleged racket
Investigators are examining the material recovered from Gupta’s mobile phone to identify potential victims, establish links between different individuals and determine how the alleged operation functioned.
The probe is also expected to focus on the app reportedly used by Gupta, his social media activity and communications that could establish whether women seeking assistance were subsequently drawn into alleged blackmail schemes.
For Nagpur investigators, a key task is to reconstruct the alleged conspiracy surrounding the Rajasthan businessman and establish whether other people helped plan or execute it. The role of the woman from Chandrapur and the alleged accomplice in the theft at Gupta’s family home also requires further scrutiny.
While the arrest has exposed several alleged strands of criminal activity, the extent of the suspected racket and the evidence supporting each allegation remain matters for the ongoing investigation and judicial proceedings.
