Patna: An anonymous caller demanded Rs 1 lakh from sugarcane minister Khursheed Alam on Saturday night, a day after deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi at an investors' meet in Calcutta lauded chief minister Nitish Kumar for turning around the law and order situation in the state.
Alam, who represents the Sikta Assembly constituency in West Champaran district, received the extortion call on his mobile phone between 8pm and 9pm on Saturday when he was in the constituency to assess preparation for Nitish's Vikas Karyon Ki Samikshta Yatra that starts from Monday.
"I was taken aback," Alam said on Sunday. "I immediately informed the superintendent of police and other officials and demanded stern action. I hope the police will initiate action against the culprit."
An FIR was lodged with the Purusottampur police station in West Champaran on Sunday. Narkatiaganj sub-divisional police officer Aman Kumar said the police have launched raids to nab the extortionist.
Last week, a caller had demanded Rs 5 lakh from panchayati raj minister Kapildev Kamat. On Friday, Muzaffarpur MLA Baby Kumari received a threat call.
Baby Kumari's security was beefed up after the Independent MLA from Bochahan Assembly constituency in Muzaffarpur lodged a complaint with the Sachivalaya police station in Patna.
"Earlier, the miscreants had threatened me through a letter. But now they are making phone calls and threatening me over phone. I have not slept for the past three days due to the lurking threat," said the MLA.
Last week, a caller told panchayati raj minister Kapildev Kamat that he was in jail because the minister did not help him. "I have to spend over Rs 5 lakh on fighting the case in court. You refund the money or be ready to face bullets," the caller told the minister, who belongs to Nitish's JDU.
"The miscreants made at least three calls, abusing and threatening," said the minister's son Anand Kumar. "We told the local police, who arrested a suspect."
In August this year, JDU MP Baidyanath Mahto had received extortion demands. Extortionists allegedly belonging to a gang called "Royal Group" reached the MP's residence in Bettiah in West Champaran district, hurled bombs and pasted a letter on the wall demanding money.
