Raipur, Sep 5 - Chhattisgarh police ordered a probe Saturday into an extortion demand by suspected Maoists from a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator.

'We have begun a probe into a letter allegedly sent by some Maoist rebels to BJP legislator Renuka Singh seeking money,' Inspector General of Police (Surguja) R.C. Patel told IANS.

'An FIR (first information report) has also been registered at Ramanujganj police station in Surguja district,' he added.

BJP's tribal leader and former minister Renuka Singh is presently a legislator from Premnagar assembly seat in Maoist-hit Surguja district bordering Jharkhand state.

Top officials here at the police headquarters said that suspected Maoists have sought about Rs.1.3 million from the legislator through a letter and had also contacted her by phone.

'We are taking the case very seriously and have got some vital clues,' an official said.