A 54-year-old caterer from Ahmedabad has filed a cyber extortion complaint, alleging that three men, including two from Punjab, blackmailed him into paying ₹8.88 lakh by threatening to leak an obscene video allegedly recorded during a WhatsApp call.
According to police in the Khokhra area, the victim—identified as Rohit Dave (name changed), a resident of Jashodanagar who runs a home-based catering business—said the extortion took place between September 2025 and April 10, 2026.
Police said he first met one of the accused, Nikhil Yogeshkumar Khurana, during a religious trip to Punjab in 2023 while travelling by train from Ahmedabad to Ferozepur. The two stayed in touch, and Khurana allegedly borrowed money multiple times citing financial problems and exam-related needs.
According to the complaint, the situation escalated in September 2025 when Khurana allegedly shared inappropriate content and later involved the victim in a WhatsApp video call, during which an explicit recording was allegedly made.
The victim claimed that Khurana and his brother Sahil Yogeshkumar Khurana, both residents of Ferozepur, then threatened to circulate the video among his relatives and on social media unless he paid money.
Police said the accused allegedly extorted money through repeated online transfers and cash demands, collecting a total of ₹8.88 lakh.
The complainant also alleged that a third person, identified as Rahul, along with another unknown caller posing as a police inspector, threatened him and demanded an additional ₹15 lakh while claiming to be a public servant.
Fearing further harassment, the victim contacted the National Cyber Crime Helpline on April 10 and later filed a formal police complaint as the threats continued.
Police have registered a case against the accused on charges including criminal conspiracy, extortion, impersonation, intimidation and cyber offences. Investigators are examining WhatsApp chats, transaction records and call details as part of the probe.