The case arose after the journalist, Ketan Tirodkar stood accused in a case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
He was granted bail in the case but the bail order was challenged before the High Court.
It was Tirodkar’s case that when he was in Delhi in May 2006, the accused Faraz Khan met him through a common friend. Khan allegedly told Tirodkar that he was the brother-in-law of one of the judges of the Delhi High Court. He further claimed that the Delhi High Court judge was a friend of the Bombay High Court judge who was to hear the plea challenging Tirodkar’s bail. He even said that he had ‘good contacts’ with ministers in the Central government.
Tirodkar then allegedly requested Khan to arrange a good lawyer to represent him in the Bombay High Court, on a ‘charity’ basis.
However, when Tirodkar returned to Mumbai, he claimed that Khan demanded ₹30 lakh from him. Shocked over the demand, Tirodkar asked Khan to call him on his MTNL phone so as to record the conversation. On this call, Khan reiterated the ₹30 lakh demand and allegedly instructed Tirodkar to arrange for two first class flight tickets and booking in a five-star hotel.
Subsequently, Tirodkar made a written complaint to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and sought a probe into the matter.
Source: Barandbench
