Constable accused in Bathinda businessman kidnap-extortion case surrenders in Chandigarh, held

Kumar, his senior, additional station house officer (SHO) of the Sector 39 police station Naveen Phogat, and a few others had allegedly kidnapped and extorted Rs 1.01 crore from a Bathinda-based businessman.

Earlier, two other accused, a property dealer and another constable, were arrested in the case while three other accused, including Phogat, are still at large. According to sources, Phogat was earlier suspended for a shoddy investigation into a rape case.

According to the police, on August 1, Bathinda-based businessman Sanjay Goyal was lured to Chandigarh by one Sarvesh, who had said he would help him exchange currency notes of Rs 500 with notes of Rs 2,000.

When Goyal reached the city along with his friend Raj Kumar, the duo was made to wait in their car by an accomplice of Sarvesh. Later, three men, including one dressed in police uniform (who was later identified as Naveen Phogat), appeared near Goyal’s car and subsequently, took them to the Sector 39 police station.

Once at the police station, Phogat threatened to implicate Goyal in a fake drugs case and “forcibly” took away the money from him.

Later, when Goyal discussed the matter with his family members, they advised him to file a complaint. On August 5, he returned to the Sector 39 police station and before he could file a complaint, Phogat, sensing trouble, returned Rs 75 lakh to Goyal, claiming that he was returning Rs 85 lakh.

However, Goyal still went ahead and filed a complaint. When the matter came to the notice of SSP (UT) Kanwardeep Kaur, she immediately dismissed Phogat.

Meanwhile, Goyal has recorded his statement under Section 164 of the CrPC before a local magistrate.