December 31, 2010 : Bhojpuri actress Rani Chatterjee (real name Sabiha Sheikh) might be little relieved now as the man, who was threatening her to kill unless she pays more than Rs 15 lakh, has been arrested by the police.
Ajay Pandey, a school teacher by profession, has admitted the crime saying that he was asked by lyricist Ritu Raj to threaten the actress, who has been seen in the films like Munnibai Nautankiwali and Sasura Bada Paisawala.
The ‘Extortionist baba’ sent threatening messages to Rani saying that he would kill her by his mantra if his demand is not fulfilled. Pandey accepted his crime at the Thane Court and is under police custody now. He added that the lyricist assured him that nothing wrong would happen if threatens Rani. As per the police, they were planning to share the money if Rani would have given it.
The Kashimira police has been asked by the court to search for the Bhojpuri lyricist, who has escaped. Police is suspecting Ritu Raj hiding somewhere in Uttar Pradesh and they are waiting for the final verdict once they find out him.
On the other hand, the Bhojpuri actress has said that she does not know Ritu Raj and she never heard his name. She added that she only knows Pandey, who used to send her threatening texts.
The investigations suggest that the alleged lyricist is close to a renowned Bhojpuri actor, with whom Rani denied to work. So, police is also looking into the possibility of this actor’s involvement in the extortion case.
On December 17, Pandey was arrested from Barrackpore in West Bengal. Now, the arrest of Ritu Raj may put some light to the case to find out the real culprit.
