Special Correspondent
Nashik : A shocking case of attempted extortion has surfaced in Nashik, where senior NCP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal was allegedly threatened with a fake Income Tax raid and asked to pay ₹1 crore as hush money. The Nashik Crime Branch has arrested the main accused, identified as Rahul Bhusare, in connection with the case.
According to the initial investigation, the accused posed as an Income Tax officer and claimed that a large amount of unaccounted cash was stored at Bhujbal’s farmhouse in Trimbakeshwar. He warned that the I-T department would soon conduct a raid at the property. Pretending to be part of the raiding team, he allegedly told Bhujbal’s office, “If you want to avoid trouble, you must pay ₹1 crore.”
Chhagan Bhujbal, speaking to the media, stated that the accused first contacted his personal assistant Santosh Gaikwad asking to speak directly with him. When Gaikwad inquired about the purpose of the call, the accused said that Bhujbal’s Trimbakeshwar farmhouse was on the Income Tax department’s radar and a raid was imminent. He demanded ₹1 crore in exchange for “helping avoid the raid.”
Concerned by the repeated calls and threats, Bhujbal’s office approached Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik, following which a complaint was formally lodged by Gaikwad. Acting swiftly, the Crime Branch laid a trap near Karanjali on the Nashik-Gujarat Highway and apprehended the accused.
Rahul Bhusare has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including extortion, impersonation, and cheating. The police are now investigating whether he was part of a larger gang and whether similar attempts were made on other public figures.
The case has raised serious concerns over the rising number of fake officer impersonation scams and attempts to extort money from high-profile individuals. Nashik Police have urged the public to remain alert and report such fraudulent activities immediately.
