Overview
- Hemlata Aditya Patkar and Amrina Iqbal Zaveri were produced in Esplanade Court and remanded to police custody until December 27.
- The Anti-Extortion Cell arrested them in Lower Parel during a sting as they accepted the first instalment, with reports placing the sum between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore.
- Investigators say an initial demand of roughly Rs 10–10.5 crore was negotiated down to Rs 5.5 crore to withdraw the case and avoid media defamation.
- The matter stems from a November 14 lift altercation at an engagement celebration, after which a molestation FIR was lodged on November 23 at Amboli Police Station.
- An FIR has been registered and charges include criminal conspiracy, intimidation, blackmail and extortion, and police are seeking an absconding associate named Utkarsh and tracing the money trail.