A complaint filed with the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has triggered a stir in the city’s business and media circles after a reputed Gujarati digital news journalist was accused of extorting ₹10 lakh from jewellers.
The FIR names journalist Dirghayu Vyas, who allegedly demanded money to “settle” a police inquiry and later threatened the jewellers with GST raids and negative publicity if they refused to pay more.
The complaint was lodged on Thursday by Paresh Nagindas Soni (49), a Maninagar jeweller who runs a workshop at Sahajanand Complex, Ratanpol. According to him, the issue stemmed from a business dispute over gold ornaments that escalated into a case before the Crime Branch.
During the inquiry, Soni and his partners — Kamlesh alias Kamal Keshavji Jadav and Gulzarbhai — were introduced to Vikal Ilyasbhai Pathan, a lawyer known in local trade circles. Vikal allegedly told them the matter was “sensitive” and that “influential people, including a journalist,” needed to be paid to resolve it.
On September 30, around 4 pm, the jewellers met Vikal at his office near Lucky Tea Hotel. There, they were told that Vyas was handling the matter and unless they paid ₹10 lakh in cash, their case at the Crime Branch would not be closed. Believing him, the jewellers say they handed over the money.
But the probe continued. When they sought answers, the jewellers allege Vyas turned hostile. “He warned us not to call again, threatened to expose our business as ‘second-rate’, promised to get GST raids conducted, and said he would defame us in the media,” Soni stated in his FIR.
The case accuses Vyas of extortion, cheating and criminal intimidation.
Crime Branch officials confirmed the FIR, saying statements are being recorded and the money trail is under verification. “We are probing the involvement of intermediaries and checking if similar complaints exist,” an officer said.
Attempts to contact Vyas and Vikal for their response remained unsuccessful.
The investigation is ongoing.