Maharashtra Minister’s Accuser Arrested for Alleged Extortion; Caught Accepting Rs. 1 Crore
A woman who accused Maharashtra minister Gore of harassment has been arrested for alleged extortion after being caught accepting Rs 1 crore. Police are investigating as political tensions rise.
A woman who had accused Maharashtra minister Jaykumar Gore of harassment has been arrested for alleged extortion, police said on Friday. Gore, who represents the Man assembly constituency in Satara district, serves as the Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
According to police officials, the woman was arrested in Satara after being caught accepting Rs 1 crore, which was allegedly part of a Rs 3 crore extortion demand to "end everything." Authorities are currently questioning her.
The Opposition has been calling for Gore’s resignation over allegations that he harassed the woman and sent her objectionable photos. However, the minister has denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that he was acquitted by a trial court in 2019. He also stated that a case under IPC Section 354 (molestation) was filed against him in 2017, but the court ruled in his favor and ordered the destruction of all related materials.
Despite this, the woman has claimed that she is facing renewed harassment. She alleges that her earlier complaint from 2016 has resurfaced on WhatsApp groups in 2025, and her name has now been revealed, further worsening her situation. Additionally, she has accused Gore of filing a false extortion complaint against her through his aide, Abhijit Kale, alleging that she demanded Rs 2 crore to pressure her.
Meanwhile, Gore has taken legal action against those who have spoken out against him. He recently submitted breach of privilege notices against Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana, and two others, accusing them of defamation. He has also moved a breach of privilege motion against Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar for reviving the old case against him.
In a related case, journalist Tushar Kharat, editor of the YouTube channel Lay Bhari, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly making derogatory remarks about one of Gore’s aides. He was also booked for attempting to extort Rs 5 crore from the minister.
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