After a stretch of dry and unusually warm days, a shift in the wind is set to bring a late-winter surprise to Madhya Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has signaled an end to the current dry spell, forecasting isolated rainfall on February 18 and 19 across the northern and northwestern fringes of the state. The rain alert specifically covers Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Datia, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Sheopur, Neemuch, and Chhatarpur. This atmospheric change is being driven by a fresh Western Disturbance currently positioned as a trough in the middle tropospheric westerlies. A powerful Subtropical Westerly Jet Stream, with core winds screaming at 259 kmph, continues to dominate the northern Indian skies, creating the perfect setup for these scattered showers. While the north braces for rain, the capital city of Bhopal is looking at a more settled, albeit n Staff Reporter Nishatpura police on Sunday registered a criminal case against three individuals for allegedly posing as RTI activists and environmentalists to extort Rs 10 lakh from a private hospital operator in Karond area.

 

The accused, identified as Neeraj Yadav, Akshay Sharma and Dhanraj Rajput, have been charged with extortion and violation of the SC/ST Act. According to police, complainant, Rajkumar Suryavanshi, (38), operates a private hospital in Karond. Suryavanshi alleged that the harassment began on October 24 last year when Neeraj Yadav approached him claiming to be an RTI activist. Yadav reportedly claimed to possess documents obtained through the Right to Information Act that revealed ‘anomalies’ in the hospital’s operations. He allegedly threatened that the hospital’s license will be suspended unless a “settlement” of Rs 10 lakh was paid. The intimidation escalated on February 3 when Yadav returned with his associates, Akshay Sharma and Dhanraj Rajput. The trio met the complainant at a tea stall to press their demands. During this meeting, the accused reportedly agreed to lower the extortion amount to Rs 6 lakh.

 

However, Suryavanshi stood his ground, refusing to pay any money and challenging the trio to proceed with whatever legal action they intended. Following the refusal, the accused allegedly resorted to hurling caste-based slurs and derogatory language at the complainant. Suryavanshi informed the police that while he had been under pressure since October, he delayed filing a formal complaint until he could secure concrete evidence. During the final encounter, he successfully recorded a sting video of the accused on his mobile phone, capturing extortion demand and the subsequent abuse. The victim submitted the video evidence along with a written complaint to Nishatpura police. Based on the digital evidence and the statement, a case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST Act.