Ludhiana, Feb. 10 -- A former district youth Congress president, believed to be close to Union railways minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, has been arrested in a Rs.30 lakh extortion bid on a city-based businessman on Sunday.

The accused, Rajiv Raja, has been booked under Sections 308(4) (extortion) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Division Number 8 police station.

Two others have also been arrested in the case but police are keeping their identities under wraps.

Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP, investigation) Amandeep Singh Brar has confirmed the development.

Victim, Ravish Gupta, 37, a resident of Mall Enclave, reported that he had been receiving continuous calls and messages o...