Daijiworld Media Network - Margao
Margao, Aug 20: In a swift response to a serious extortion complaint, the Fatorda police have arrested four individuals, including Walter Fernandes of Raia, for allegedly threatening and attempting to extort Rs 2 crore from real estate developer Shrinivas Thorwat, Managing Partner of Ambica Realty.
The other three accused in the case have been identified as:
• Tirupati Varkuri, resident of Margao
• Rohit Faldessai, resident of Fatorda
• Vinod Kumar Totad, resident of Maina-Curtorim
All four have been remanded to three days of police custody and are booked under Sections 126(2), 351(2), 308(5) r/w 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.
According to police sources, Walter Fernandes was summoned via his legal representative for questioning. Upon his late-night arrival at the Fatorda police station, he was immediately taken into custody. The remaining accused were arrested shortly thereafter based on the same complaint.
During the court hearing before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Margao, police argued for Fernandes’ remand, citing the need to recover a weapon allegedly used or intended to be used in the commission of the crime.
In his complaint, Shrinivas Thorwat alleged that on August 14, the four accused, acting in collusion, wrongfully restrained and threatened him, putting him and his minor children in fear of death, in connection with a dispute over a construction project in Benaulim. The accused allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore while issuing grave threats to coerce compliance.
Preliminary information also reveals that Thorwat had a longstanding financial dispute with Tirupati Varkuri, a contractor reportedly involved in the delayed completion and financial management of construction work.
The police investigation is ongoing, with further questioning and recovery of evidence underway.