Mine Owners Accuse Akola Collector of Extortion, Lodge FIR Akola: Additional collector of Akola Pramod Gaikwad has been named in an FIR lodged by mine owners accusing him of demanding Rs15,000 per mine from every quarry operator in the district for allowing operations. The complaint by the mine owners alleges that threats were issued to shut down businesses if the money was not paid. Akola has nearly 70 minor mineral quarries extracting stone, gravel, crusher, and murrum. The FIR was lodged at MIDC police station nine days after a formal complaint was submitted by mine owners. As part of the evidence, the complainants submitted an audio clip purportedly featuring a conversation between Gaikwad and Vivek Bijwe, president of Akola Quarry and Crusher Association. However, the authenticity of the audio clip has not been independently verified. A case under relevant sections of the BNS and Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered. In the alleged conversation, references are made to collection of funds and follow-ups, which the complainants claim support their allegations of monetary demand. Speaking on the issue, Bijwe reiterated that the association had approached the police with evidence after repeated demands were made. Meanwhile, Gaikwad has categorically denied all allegations, calling them "false and baseless." In his clarification, Gaik, stated that he had never demanded any money from the mine owners and had, in fact, been assisting them in their work. He explained that the district had set a revenue target of Rs130 crore from the mining sector for the current financial year, but only Rs60 crore had been recovered. To improve revenue collection, he had convened meetings on March 15 and later, urging quarry operators to pay pending royalty dues promptly.#midc_police_station #akola_collector #pramod_gaikwad #akola_quarry_and_crusher_association #vivek_bijwe
