TWO ARRESTED FOR EXTORTION

TWO ARRESTED FOR EXTORTION

14-OCT-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BHABHUA-----------------------The Kudra police have arrested two individuals for extorting money from vehicles near the Bhabhua Mod intersection on National Highway 19 (within the Kudra Nagar Panchayat area) under the guise of 'Sairat' (market/toll) collection.

It is worth noting that a video showing the collection of money from vehicles near the Bhabhua Mod intersection on NH-19 had recently gone viral. To verify the matter, a team from *Akhil Bharatiya Samachar Patra*, along with correspondents from other print and electronic media outlets, visited the site and found the extortion racket in progress.

They captured photographs and videos of the activity and highlighted the issue prominently in the newspaper. Furthermore, questions were raised regarding the administration's role, as an official vehicle was visible in the viral video.

Reports indicate that on October 12, the Kudra Station House Officer (SHO) received a news report via WhatsApp—originally published by *Akhil Bharatiya Samachar Patra*—alleging extortion under the pretext of 'Sairat' collection at the Bhabhua Mod intersection on NH-19. To verify the report, the Kudra police, accompanied by an armed force, visited the site and investigated the matter. The investigation revealed that on October 9, two individuals had been stopping passing vehicles and illegally collecting money in the name of 'Sairat'. Consequently, the police registered an FIR (Case No. 483/26, dated October 12, 2026) under Sections 126(2), 308(2), 351(2)(3), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and formally arrested both accused. The arrested accused have been identified as Sudhakar Kumar (son of Manoj Mali) and Aniket Mali (son of Kashi Mali), both residents of Mali Mohalla under the Kudra police station limits in Kaimur district. While the police are currently proceeding with further legal action, the incident has raised questions regarding the authorization—and the level at which it was granted—for stopping vehicles on a major highway like NH-19 to collect *Sairat* (levies/fees). Furthermore, if the collection was illegal, who else is involved in the matter?