Bilaspur: In a disturbing incident, former Bilaspur MLA Shailesh Pandey has reported receiving a death threat and ransom demand from an unknown caller. The caller allegedly demanded ₹20 lakh and threatened to kidnap the daughter of a known government official, currently studying in Delhi, if the demand was not met.
Caller Threatens Kidnapping of Officer’s Daughter
The incident took place on Wednesday around 11:45 AM,
when a call was received on Pandey’s phone from an unknown number. His wife, Ritu
Pandey, initially answered the call. The caller asked to speak directly
with Shailesh Pandey. Upon taking the call, the former MLA was directly
threatened by the man, who claimed to be a criminal.
According to the complaint, the caller not only issued a
death threat to Pandey but also warned that Manju Pandey’s daughter,
who is currently pursuing her studies in Delhi, would be abducted.
Immediate Police Complaint and Investigation
Acting swiftly, Shailesh Pandey informed Senior
Superintendent of Police Rajneesh Singh and later visited Sakri Police
Station to lodge a formal complaint. The police have filed an FIR and
initiated an investigation.
Sakri Police Station in-charge Pradeep Arya confirmed
that the call came from a Delhi-based mobile number. The cyber cell
is now working to trace the identity of the caller using technical
surveillance.
Police sources further revealed that the official’s daughter
is currently in Bilaspur and safe, although she resides in Delhi for her
studies. Investigators are also probing the motive behind targeting the
former MLA, including why the threat involved a ransom and someone else's
family member.
Political and Public Concern
The threat has sparked serious concern in political and
administrative circles. The police have assured full security and a thorough
investigation to get to the bottom of the matter.
As of now, multiple angles are being explored,
including extortion, personal enmity, and attempts at political intimidation.
Authorities are taking the threat very seriously, and further details
are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.