Barmer, June 29 -- A case was registered against 78 members of a khap panchayat in Pali district on Saturday after on the complaint of a man who alleged that the panchayat imposed a fine of Rs.1.08 crore on him for supporting his friend who broke off his daughter's engagement in October last year, police officers aware of the matter said. Mandawas village resident? Virma Ram, in his complaint, said his friend Dungar Ram, currently living in Bengaluru, called off his daughter Mamta's marriage with a person called Lalaram from Chenda village in October last year after learning that the groom's "character was questionable". After a complaint by Lalaram's family, a panchayat meeting was held in Mandawas in October last year, the complainant said, adding that the panchayat declared Dungar Ram guilty of dishonouring the engagement and imposed a penalty of Rs.18 lakh on him. Virma Ram said he was present at the meeting and appealed to the panchayat to reduce the fine, calling the decision "unfair". He claimed that the panchayat took "offence" and said that if Dungar Ram failed to pay the fine, Virma Ram would have to pay it instead. The complainant added that he was ordered to pay money to 78 members of the panchayat, amounting to Rs.1.08 crore. "The panchayat warned me that failure to pay would result in social boycott," Virma Ram said, adding that his and Dungar Ram's families were socially ostracised. Virma Ram said that despite repeated efforts to negotiate with the panchayat, they insisted on a reduced payment of Rs.40 lakh, which he still could not pay. He added that the panchayat members also warned the community members not to keep any contact with his family. Virma Ram approached Jetpur police and filed a complaint on June 27 accusing the panchayat members of threatening, intimidating, and blackmailing him. Jetpur SHO Rajendra Singh said an FIR has been registered against all 78 panchayat members under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita saction 308 (extortion). The matter is under investigation, the SHO said....