Rajkot: Atkot police in rural Rajkot booked three persons for allegedly running an unlicensed moneylending business, making death threats and usurping agricultural land from a man after he failed to repay a loan on extortionate terms.The accused are Bhaghu Jebaliya and his sons, Pratapi and Raju, all residents of Santhali village in Jasdan taluka.According to the FIR, Chetan Rupareliya, 40, also a resident of Santhali, borrowed Rs 5 lakh from Bhaghu in 2017 to clear debts incurred during his sisters’ weddings. Bhaghu agreed to provide the funds at a 3% monthly interest rate on the condition that Rupareliya execute a sale deed for his five bighas of farmland as security, with a verbal agreement to reconvey the land on full repayment within two years.When Rupareliya fell behind on payments, the accused began compounding the interest, constantly intimidating him and demanding immediate payment. Coerced by persistent threats to his life, Rupareliya was forced to sign a registered sale deed at the Jasdan sub-registrar’s office on July 20, 2017, without receiving any actual consideration money for the property.Rupareliya stated that whenever he approached the trio to settle the dues and regain his land, they arbitrarily raised the outstanding figure. The accused recently demanded Rs 20 lakh for the return of the deed and refused to yield possession despite Rupareliya’s pleas.Accompanied by a friend, Rupareliya approached the Atkot police station. Police have registered a case for extortion, criminal intimidation and abetment under BNS, and Sections 5, 40, and 42 of the Gujarat Money-Lenders Act, 2011.
