Nagpur: In a significant verdict in the sensational threat call and extortion case linked to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, a special court in Nagpur on Friday convicted two accused for allegedly issuing death threats and demanding crores of rupees in extortion money from the senior BJP leader.
The judgment was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Anilkumar K Sharma in connection with the case investigated by Dhantoli Police Station.
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The case had created nationwide panic in 2023 after repeated threatening calls were allegedly made to Gadkari’s office landline, demanding extortion amounts of Rs 100 crore and Rs 10 crore. The callers had allegedly threatened bomb blasts and warned of assassinating the Union Minister if the money was not paid.
Investigations later revealed that the threatening calls were allegedly made from inside Hindalga Central Prison, exposing serious concerns over the misuse of communication facilities from within a high-security jail.
The court convicted Jayesh alias Jayeshkant alias Shahir alias Shakir Pujari and Afsar Pasha alias Bashiruddin alias Khushiruddin Mohammad in the case, while another accused, Mohammad Shakir, remains absconding.
According to the prosecution, investigators gathered substantial technical and electronic evidence proving that multiple mobile numbers and SIM cards were allegedly used from inside the prison to issue threats and extortion-related communications.
During the probe, police reportedly recovered crucial digital evidence including mobile data, Call Detail Records (CDRs), SIM cards, bank transaction details, electronic communications and witness statements linking the accused to the crime.
Investigators also informed the court that objectionable content and alleged references to banned and extremist organisations were found during the forensic examination of seized devices. Police claimed messages such as “Taliban Zindabad” and references linked to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) surfaced during the investigation. Agencies had also expressed suspicion regarding possible links of the accused with the D-Gang network and terror-related elements.
Based on the evidence presented, the court held the accused guilty under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The convicted accused were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment ranging from two to five years under different sections related to criminal intimidation, extortion threats and unlawful activities. The court also imposed fines under multiple sections, with all sentences ordered to run concurrently.
However, both accused were acquitted under Section 20 of the UAPA Act.
The prosecution was led by Special Public Prosecutor Vedika Patil, who presented extensive documentary, technical and electronic evidence before the court. In a notable aspect of the trial, the prosecution examined 64 witnesses within nearly one-and-a-half months to establish the case.
Senior police officers including ACP Nilesh Palwe, PI Prabhavati Ekurke, ACP Dr Abhijeet Patil and PI Ritesh Aher played key roles in the investigation.
