Ex-BBC journalist Vinod Verma arrested on charges of extortion and blackmailing Chhattisgarh PWD minister

The Chhattisgarh Police on Friday arrested a former BBC journalist, Vinod Verma, for allegedly trying to extort money from a PWD minister in the state.

Journalist Vinod Verma arrested by Chhattisgarh Police from Ghaziabad's Indirapuram over a case of blackmailing & extortion.

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 27, 2017

According to CNN-News18, Verma is held on charges of extortion and blackmail. [caption id=“attachment_4179167” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of former BBC journalist Vinod Verma. Courtesy: Twitter/@patrakarvinod[/caption] He allegedly tried to blackmail sitting Chhattisgarh PWD minister Rajesh Kumar, saying he had over 100 sex tapes of the minister in exchange for money. Verma was arrested from the Indirapuram area of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The news channel reported that the police had allegedly recovered 500 CDs of the sex tape from Verma’s residence. It’s unclear if the CDs were planted or Verma had indeed created copies. The veteran journalist is a member of the Editors Guild of India and has worked in media houses such as BBC and Amar Ujala, according to  ABP Live_._ Verma was arrested from his home around 4 am on Friday. A six-member Chhattisgarh Police team arrived in Ghaziabad and made the arrest with logistical help from Uttar Pradesh Police.  Reacting to his arrest, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ashutosh condemned the arrest on Twitter and questioned if it was an attack on press freedom.

Vinod Verma Ex BBC n Amar Ujala Digital Editor has been picked up most mysteriously by UP N Chhatttisgarh Police 3.30am. Attack on press?

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) October 27, 2017

While being taken to the court from the police station, Verma said he was being targetted as he has a sex tape of a BJP leader, reported Cnn-News18. Verma will be produced in a Ghaziabad court at noon on Friday for a transit remand.