2 persons held for allegedly trying to extort money from RIL

Ahmedabad, May 21 (PTI) Police have arrested two persons,
who allegedly tried to extort Rs 50 lakh from Reliance
Industries for withdrawing their petition filed in Mumbai High
Court opposing the company's merger with group firm RPL.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested Jayendra Shah, a
company secretary who had filed a petition in the high court
opposing the merger, and his associate Dilip Motwani

"The duo had asked RIL official to pay Rs 50 lakh for
withdrawing affidavits filed by them in the Mumbai High Court
opposing the meger between RIL and RPL," Crime Branch
Inspector Tarun Barot told PTI.

Police suspect professional rivalry in the case as Shah
during his phone calls to RIL officials used to say that he
was assigned the task by some Mumbai-based associates and he
would need to consult them before withdrawing the petition
objecting to the merger.

A laptop, mobile phones and some documents have been
seized from them and police are furhter probing the case.

Sources in the crime branch said the data from laptop and
mobile phones could lead them to others who could be involved
in the case.

Sources said Shah and Motwani called up RIL officials and
told them that they would settle the matter if they are given
Rs 50 lakh. They also demanded immediate release of Rs 10
lakh, they added.

Following the phone call, RIL officials registered a
complaint with the police.

The duo were produced in a local court and were remanded
to two-day police custody. PTI