India, Sept. 3 -- Amid increased Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection of hotels, restaurants and other food businesses across Maharashtra, the fear of FDA raids among hotel and restaurant owners in Kolhapur appears to have been exploited by two men, who allegedly posed as FDA officials and threatened these establishments with action to extort money.

The Kolhapur police have arrested Mahadev Namdev Lohar, 35, a resident of Shahuwadi, in connection with the alleged extortion attempt while his associate, Prashant Sarjerao Yadav, is absconding.

Preliminary investigation has found that Lohar and Yadav obtained mobile numbers displayed outside hotels and restaurants in Kolhapur district and contacted the owners of more than 50 to 60 ...