The Gaikwad Haveli police have filed a case against four self-styled journalists—Ojef Tirmizi, Abeda Pathan, Azim Khan, and Sabir Sheikh—for allegedly extorting money from the family of a minor boy by uploading a video of his scuffle on CG Road.
According to police, the accused posted a video of the minor’s altercation on Instagram and demanded Rs 10,000 for its removal. The boy’s family paid Rs 5,000, but the video remained online. When the family requested its removal, the accused threatened to further defame the boy by making the video viral.
The minor, a Std 11 student from Astodia studying in Paldi, had a scuffle with a friend three months ago over a financial dispute, which was later resolved amicably. Ojef Tirmizi, posing as a journalist, exploited the video to extort money. The boy recorded their conversations, providing crucial evidence to the police.
Tirmizi is known for posting sensational content ranging from fights to illegal constructions, often leveraging these for extortion. He has a history of similar offenses and arrests. Sources say the gang operated with the tacit support of certain officials, enabling their racket.
The community, especially in the Shahpur police station area, has protested against the gang’s blackmail tactics using social media videos.