Surat : Social Media Influencer Kirti Patel Accused of Extortion and Defamation 

SURAT, GUJARAT :  Social media influencer Kirti Patel, renowned for her TikTok and Instagram presence but also mired in controversies, faces serious allegations of extortion involving a staggering ₹2 crores from builder Vaju Patel in Surat. The accusations stem from Kirti’s purported exploitation of a financial dispute between Vaju and Vijay Manji Savani, leading to defamatory content posted by Kirti on Instagram and subsequent legal action by Surat police.

According to ACP V.R. Patel, the conflict traces back eight years to Vijay Manji Savani’s initial investment of ₹5 lakhs in Vaju Patel’s project, which was subsequently canceled. Vijay demanded a return of ₹2 crores, sparking a series of legal battles between the two parties dating back to 2017 and 2018, including clashes, defamation claims, and allegations of extortion.

Kirti Patel allegedly threw her weight behind Vijay Savani by resorting to online threats against Vaju Patel, posting derogatory captions and explicit images of him on Instagram. She purportedly claimed to possess compromising videos of Vaju, threatening to release them publicly. The situation took a darker turn when members of the Bhuri gang, notably Jahangir alias Zakir Pathan, reportedly drugged Vaju Patel and captured compromising photographs, which Kirti Patel subsequently shared online, amplifying the defamation campaign.

In response, Surat police arrested Vijay Savani, seized his phones, and uncovered incriminating evidence, including manipulated images of Vaju Patel with Manisha Goswami, a local paan shop owner. The extent of Kirti Patel’s involvement and her potential motives in this defamation scheme are currently under investigation. Multiple charges, including sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) such as 368, 389, 504, 506(2), 328, 507, 120(B), as well as provisions of the Information Technology (I.T.) Act 66(E) and 67, have been filed against the accused. The police continue to probe the case to uncover all relevant facts.