Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Pune Journalist Booked for Demanding ₹10 Lakh From Railway Inspector
Police in Pune have accused a journalist of trying to get money from a police officer in a dishonest way.
They say the journalist, Muzammil Shaikh, asked an inspector to pay him ten lakh rupees.
He told the officer that if he did not pay, he would write a news story that could get the officer into trouble at work.
The officer said no.
After that, police say, the journalist sent him a message on WhatsApp and wrote the story anyway.
Police are investigating, and they have officially registered a case about what happened.
It is important to remember that these are just accusations for now.
No one has been proven guilty yet.
A police officer named SS Jadhav is looking into the case to find out the truth.
Shivajinagar police in Pune registered an extortion case against Muzammil Shaikh, reportedly the editor-in-chief and director of the digital news channel Times of Maharashtra.
Shaikh allegedly demanded ₹10 lakh from a Railway Police inspector and threatened to publish a defamatory news report if the money was not paid.
Police allege Shaikh obtained information about a police drill, called the officer to Hotel Pride in Shivajinagar on August 4, and showed him a partially visible photograph.
After the inspector refused to pay, Shaikh allegedly sent a threatening headline via WhatsApp and later published a report that police describe as containing false allegations.
A case was registered under Sections 308(2), 224, 351(2) and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with Assistant Police Inspector SS Jadhav investigating.
- Who
- Journalist Muzammil Shaikh, reportedly editor-in-chief and director of Times of Maharashtra, is the accused; the complainant is a Reserve Police Inspector attached to the Railway Police.
- What
- An extortion case was registered for allegedly demanding ₹10 lakh and threatening to publish a defamatory news report against the inspector.
- When
- The alleged meeting took place on August 4; the case was registered after the inspector lodged a complaint.
- Where
- Shivajinagar, Pune, including Hotel Pride and the Railway Police headquarters.
- Why
- Shaikh allegedly demanded payment in exchange for not publishing a report he claimed would lead to departmental action and could cost the officer his job.
- Accused
- Muzammil Shaikh, reportedly editor-in-chief and director of Times of Maharashtra
- Complainant
- Reserve Police Inspector, Railway Police
- Amount allegedly demanded
- ₹10 lakh
- Location
- Shivajinagar, Pune
- Meeting venue and date
- Hotel Pride, August 4
- Legal provisions
- Sections 308(2), 224, 351(2) and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Alleged tactics
- WhatsApp threat, partially visible photograph, published report with alleged false allegations
- Investigating officer
- Assistant Police Inspector SS Jadhav