Fake Journalist Arrested for Rs 3.5 Lakh Extortion

In Dehradun, authorities arrested a 28-year-old man on Wednesday for impersonating a journalist and defrauding a Prem Nagar resident of over Rs 3.5 lakh. The accused, Rajat Singh, allegedly threatened to publish damaging false reports about a property to coerce the victim into paying him.

Singh reportedly introduced himself as a journalist during the property's construction phase. He demanded money to suppress fabricated stories about the land, collecting approximately Rs 2.5 lakh in cash and an additional Rs 97,000 through digital transactions. The victim's complaint also indicated that Singh, accompanied by two individuals he claimed were journalists, continued to harass and demand a further Rs 5 lakh.

Further allegations suggest that Singh and his associates threatened to publish false information and commit violence if the demanded sum was not paid. A case was registered at the Prem Nagar police station, and evidence was gathered before Singh's apprehension. Authorities are investigating the involvement of his alleged accomplices, and it was noted that Singh has a prior criminal case against him.