Panaji, Mar 9 (IANS): The anti-corruption branch of the Goa Police has arrested two freelance journalists for allegedly trying to extort money from a businessman in Margao town in South Goa, posing as vigilance department sleuths.

The two accused, according to police records, are Sanjay Shinde, a freelance journalist working for a local cable news channel 'In Goa' and Melvyn Soares, who also used to freelance with local media outfits as well as with the Goa government's department for information and publicity.

"Shinde and Soares had approached a businessman in South Goa who was constructing a private multi-purpose hall and demanded a bribe of Rs.5 lakh to overlook alleged illegalities in the construction," a senior police official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

Both of them were arrested late on Tuesday in Margao town, located 35 km south of Panaji, accepting Rs.80,000, as an instalment of the bribe which had been demanded.

While police claim that they have recovered a press card allegedly issued by the In Goa cable news channel, when contacted the editor in chief of the channel, Anil Lad, said: "He is not our employee. The ID card appears to be fake."