Vadodara: Sayajiganj police have arrested two men who posed as senior political leaders and attempted to extort ₹15 crore from Indo Amines Ltd., located in Tundav, Savli. The accused, identified as Sunil Rohit Mahida (38) of Tarsali and Jitsinh alias Dawood Chhatrasinh Rana (55) of Tundav, had claimed to be high-ranking members of the Republican Party of India.

Police have seized a car used by the accused that displayed a “State President – Republican Party of India” board and was fitted with red and blue LED lights resembling those used on police vehicles. Investigators are now probing how the accused obtained such lights and whether any government official was involved.

According to the FIR filed by Saji Josh, director of Indo Amines Ltd., the accused summoned company representatives to a hotel in Sayajiganj. Posing as influential political leaders with strong connections to senior government officials, they accused the company of causing pollution and threatened to shut it down unless paid ₹15 crore.

During the meeting, the accused were accompanied by five bouncers. Police have initiated a search for these individuals.

DCP Zone 1 Jagdish Chavda appealed to the public, urging anyone else threatened by the same group to come forward. He confirmed that the police are checking whether the accused have a criminal history and whether they are linked to any political party.

Investigators are also examining repeated references made by the accused to a government officer named Shrivastava during phone calls. Police are verifying whether such an officer exists and if any government personnel are involved in the extortion conspiracy.

In a separate complaint filed with Manjusar police, Advocate Imtiaz Rathod stated that Dawood Rana, along with multiple associates and six bouncers, visited his residence and threatened him to surrender rights to land in Tundav.

Following the company’s complaint, Sayajiganj police arrested both Mahaida and Dawood within hours. Their vehicle bearing the political insignia has been confiscated. Investigators sought five days’ remand, and the court has granted one day for interrogation.

The case continues to be investigated from multiple angles, including political impersonation, illegal vehicle modifications, and potential links to officials.