Mumbai lawyer arrested for allegedly kidnapping, torturing his client with intention to extort Rs. 3 crores as legal fees

A case has been registered against Mumbai lawyer, advocate Vimal Jha for allegedly kidnapping and torturing his client after the client allegedly refused to pay him his legal fees. .A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Jha for offences under Section 364A (extortion for ransom) 365 (kidnapping to illegally confine), 387 (fear of death by extortion), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code..According to the FIR, Jha kidnapped his client Navnath Gole, a business person whom he had represented in a bail matter and secured a favourable order. .Gole who is into export and import business, had availed Jha's services when he was arrested in connection with a legal dispute stemming from a business transaction. .Gole's wife had approached Jha to represent Gole in the Ahmednagar Sessions Court, Maharashtra, to secure his release on bail. Jha apparently stated that his fees was Rs 70 lakh. .Gole claimed his wife paid up the entire fees amount partly through RTGS and partly through online transfer..As per the FIR, Jha started demanding Rs. 3 crores from Gole a few days after Gole's release on bail. He also allegedly threatened that if the money is not given, then Jha will ensure that Gole's bail gets cancelled by the court. .When Gole refused to pay up despite repeated threats and demands, Jha allegedly kidnapped Gole on April 2, 2021. .After Gole was kidnapped and taken to a farm house in Mumbai suburbs, he was allegedly beaten up by three unknown persons who seemed to have known Jha, the FIR said. Gole's phones were also confiscated and there were further demands of transferring some of the properties belonging to Gole in Jha's name..The following day at about 2.30 pm, Jha left Gole with his men and went to Nashik. Gole on the other hand was finally dropped at a location after which he filed a Police complaint. .Jha was reportedly arrested by the Kharghar police station, Mumbai on Wednesday.