Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Police has booked BJP’s Pulwama president Showkat Gayoor for allegedly making an extortion demand from a contractor through intimidation, officials said on Tuesday.
The BJP, reacting to the development, suspended Gayoor with immediate effect from all party posts and responsibilities and initiated disciplinary proceedings against him.
The FIR was registered Monday night at Newa police post in Pulwama on a complaint by Mohammad Yaseen Ganie, who also alleged that the BJP leader threatened him with the Public Safety Act if his demand is not met.
Ganie, in his complaint, accused Gayoor of committing acts of extortion, criminal intimidation, wrongful restraint, obstruction, harassment and making illegal demands in connection with the work being undertaken for Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee, Barthana.
“Showkat Gayoor has, for some time, been continuously interfering with and obstructing the complainant and his drivers/workers. The accused has been repeatedly contacting the complainant by telephone, threatening him and demanding illegal gratification as a condition for allowing the complainant to continue the lawful work,” the complaint said.
Ganie accused the BJP leader of demanding Rs 5 lakh from him as extortion money.
“Gayoor conveyed, in substance, that unless the complainant complied with his demand, he would not permit the complainant to continue his lawful work. The complainant initially refused to succumb to such illegal demands.
“However, the accused continued making calls and issuing threats and creating obstacles in the lawful work of the complainant,” his complaint read.
Ganie also alleged that he gave the BJP leader Rs 54,000 in two instalments in November last year.
“The said payments were not voluntary payments made out of free will. They were made under the continuous pressure, threats, intimidation and apprehension created by the accused,” the complaint said.
Meanwhile, state general secretary Mohammad Anwar Khan placed Gayoor under suspension from all organisational posts after consulting the senior party leaders.
“Pending finalisation of the disciplinary proceedings, Showkat Gayoor Andrabi is hereby suspended from all organisational posts and responsibilities of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including the post of district president Pulwama with immediate effect,” the suspension order read.
