Surat: Prakash Desai, a former corporator known as a popular leader in the Udhna area, has been arrested from his home in a dramatic fashion for extorting three lakh rupees. The arrest followed complaints that Desai was threatening to demolish a four-story building owned by the operator of the well-known Leo Classes, using continuous RTIs and applications. He was caught red-handed by the SOG (Special Operations Group) while accepting the extortion money. A video of his arrest has since gone viral.

Desai allegedly used mafia-style code words while demanding the money. He referred to the classes as a “farm,” six and a half lakhs as “six and a half tickets,” and the municipal corporation as a “theater.” He threatened the classes’ operator on the phone, saying, “If you don’t give me six and a half tickets, I will dance in the theater (municipal corporation).”

When the police arrived to arrest Prakash Desai, he locked himself in his first-floor room, creating a dramatic scene. Despite repeated orders from the police to open the door, he refused to come out. Fearing he might harm himself as a crowd gathered, a police constable entered the room through a neighboring building’s gallery and opened the door, leading to Desai’s arrest. Even while being taken away, Desai continued to create a scene.

Desai had already received the three lakh rupees in extortion money. However, fearing being caught red-handed with the money, he threw it down from his first-floor room towards the police standing below. The police, however, had recordings of his extortion demands and the money’s acceptance.

The SOG, led by DCP Rajdeep Nakum, had set a trap to catch Desai after receiving a complaint from Jigar Jaysukh Kathiria, the operator of Leo Classes. Desai had filed six applications and RTIs with the municipal corporation, alleging illegal construction of the four-story building. He demanded three lakh rupees to withdraw these applications. Desai had called Kathiria to his house to collect the money. DCP Nakum himself went to the Udhna zone to oversee the operation, but Desai did not show up. The next day, however, the police successfully laid a trap and arrested him.

Prakash Desai was a popular figure in the Udhna area. He had won the municipal corporation elections as an independent candidate three times – in 1995, 2000, and 2010. He was known for being helpful to people. His supporters were shocked by the video of his arrest for extortion.

The police are continuing their investigation into the extortion case against Prakash Desai. DeshGujarat