Extortion demand case takes new twist

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara: The case of extortion demand of Rs 5 lakh from an Ara Orthopaedic Surgeon Mahavir Prasad and subsequent arrest of two persons in this connection has taken a new twist. The two arrested persons Shatrughna Singh and Mukesh Singh of village Pipra under Garhani police station in Bhojpur district, during their interrogation, told police on November 21, 2016, that it was not at all a matter of demand of extortion from Dr Prasad rather it concerned non-payment of commission by the doctor.

Some miscreants had demanded Rs 5 lakh from an orthopaedic surgeon Dr Mahavir Prasad on November 20, 2016, threatening to eliminate him if he failed to pay the amount. Dr Prasad lodged an FIR with Nawada police station, Ara, in this connection. Police immediately swung into action and arrested Shatrutghan Singh and Mukesh Singh on November 21. During interrogation, the arrested persons said the matter was related to non-payment of commission.

Shatrughan said that he was a compounder at the clinic of Dr Prasad but later he left him and joined another doctor. But he was in contact with Dr Prasad and regularly brought patients to him and the doctor paid the fixed commission. He said that his friend Mukesh contacted the doctor for the operation of jaw of his friend and a commission was fixed for the purpose. But, after the operation, the doctor did not give his commission this time. He said that Mukesh and he once again contacted the doctor for the treatment of a patient admitted at Ara Sadar Hospital and a deal was struck this time but the doctor once again did not pay their commission. When they pressurized the doctor for commission, he called both of them to his clinic and got their signature on a blank paper.

Bhojpur SP Kshatranil Singh said that SDPO Sanjay Kumar had been asked to inquire into the matter and no one will be spared in this regard if found guilty. Dr Prasad refuted all the charges levelled against him by the two arrested persons and demanded an impartial inquiry into the  matter.