Upendra Rai Extortion Case: CBI Exposes ₹15 Crore Fraud via Fake IT Dept Power Broker Role
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a charge sheet against journalist Upendra Rai and his partner Rahul Sharma on the allegations that they extorted ₹15 crore from a real estate company in Mumbai, White Lion Real Estate Developers Pvt Ltd. The case was registered based on a complaint made by the company's director Balvinder Singh Malhotra, where Rai was accused of threatening legal proceedings under the Benami Act in his guise as an Income Tax Department "power broker" to demand payments.
Key Allegations
- Rai allegedly approached Kapil Wadhawan, a relative of the company’s promoters, in September 2023, claiming access to sensitive IT Department documents targeting White Lion and affiliated entities.
- During a meeting at Rai’s Delhi residence, he allegedly showcased IT Department files and demanded ₹15 crore to "settle" potential legal actions.
- A consultancy agreement was reportedly created to funnel payments into Rai’s HDFC Bank account between October 2023 and April 2024.
CBI’s Charges
The agency has indicted Rai and Sharma on criminal conspiracy and Prevention of Corruption Act sections. Interestingly, there is no mention of Income Tax officials in the charge sheet, and the investigation is still open-ended.
Modus Operandi
Rai is said to have used his journalistic clout to scare the builders, threatening Benami Act action unless ₹15 crore was paid. The CBI claims the money was routed in the name of a consultancy agreement to make the transactions legitimate.
