PANAJI
A MLA from North Goa has accused an Odisha native of exploiting their acquaintance to access sensitive information including his bank accounts and election affidavit and circulating a morphed vulgar video containing his identity.
He claimed that Kukesh Rauta used the affidavit to calculate his net worth and initiate extortion demands, since over a year.
The harassment allegedly began shortly after the MLA assumed office in March 2022, after contesting the general assembly elections in February 2022.
The purportedly morphed video went viral on social media on Saturday despite Rauta’s custody after his arrest on December 4. The accused is said to be in possession of three more objectionable videos.
The complaint to the Crime Branch on December 2 explained that he had known Rauta for some time, as the former had occasionally offered financial help.
The MLA suspects that a perceived slight during the Christmas season last year, which is when he failed to respond to Rauta’s message, might have provoked the accused into hatching the extortion plan.
“Sometimes he got into video mode and apparently did recordings with me. I was not aware of the recording with a woman online and I believe he has morphed the video and is now seeking to misuse the same and to commence an extortion racket,” he stated with a copy of the complaint in possession of The Goan.
The legislator further alleged that Rauta sent him a link as a “Diwali gift” which turned out to be morphed vulgar content. Shocked by the vulgar content, he immediately deleted the video.
“Rauta began extortion demands and disclosed that when I had not sent him money, he googled me and realized I had contested elections and now was MLA,” he said.
Rauta allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh but the MLA transferred Rs 55,000 to his accounts. On November 27, 2023 Rauta reportedly issued an ultimatum, threatening to release the video unless the full payment was made by November 30. The accused referred to the MLA’s disclosed assets in the election affidavit to justify his demands, which hiked to Rs 5 crores from earlier demand.
“Do you want another three videos?” and warnings against pursuing legal action were explicit threats from Rauta.
While Rauta is currently in police custody, the case has raised concerns about the possible involvement of others. Crime Branch sleuths declined to disclose further details stating the matter is under investigation.
