VK Singh’s wife alleges blackmail, files case

Union minister V.K. Singh’s wife Bharti Singh has filed a police complaint on Wednesday against a man who, she alleged, was trying to extort '2 crore by blackmailing her with doctored audio and video clips to defame her husband.

In her complaint lodged at Tughlaq Road police station, Ms Singh alleged that Pradeep Chauhan, a resident of Gurgaon, had even threatened her of “dire consequences” if the money was not paid.

“We are investigating the matter and the accused has been questioned by us and he will called for a second round of questioning soon. He is not arrested yet,” said a senior police officer.

An FIR was filed on the complaint of Ms Singh at the Tughlaq Raod police station, under Sections 384 (extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation) on August 12.

Ms Singh said Pradeep Chauhan, a property dealer, was known to her as a friend of her nephew. He had been calling her, threatening to make public the “doctored” audio and video clips, the contents of which were not known to her. He phoned her repeatedly to say that unless he is paid the money, he will post his conversations with her on social media.

The accused allegedly called her several times and threatened to “ruin” her husband’s reputation. He allegedly called repeatedly on the night of August 6.

Ms Singh also alleged in her complaint that the accused had posted a video on youtube leveling false allegations against her husband and family.

She also expressed “grave threat” to her security alleging that Pradeep was a “dangerous” man who carried guns.

“He alleges that he is in possession of some doctored audio and video, based on which he was basing his extortion demands, but we haven’t seen any such thing,” said Ms Singh’s lawyer, Vishwajeet Singh.