Close aide of Minister Bittu arrested for extortion in Ludhiana

Chandigarh: Ludhiana police on Sunday arrested former district Youth Congress president Rajiv Raja for allegedly demanding a Rs 30 lakh ransom from a city-based businessman.

Raja, reportedly close to Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, has been booked at Division No. 8 police station. Two more suspects have also been arrested, though their identities have not been disclosed.

According to ADCP Amandeep Singh Brar, the victim, Ravish Gupta (37), had been receiving WhatsApp calls and messages from an international number, threatening dire consequences, including death, if the ransom was not paid.

Based on Gupta’s complaint, police registered an FIR under sections 308(4) (extortion) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).