Kautilya's Arthashastra 4.4.9

4.4.9

grāmakūṭam adhyakṣaṃ vā sattrī brūyāt - "asau jālmaḥ prabhūtadravyaḥ, tasyāyam anarthaḥ, tenainam āhārayasva" iti //

A spy may tell the congregation of villages (grámakútam) or its superintendent that a wealthy man of wicked character is involved in some trouble and that this opportunity may be availed of to squeeze money from him. If either the one or the other complies with the spy, banishment shall be ordered under the proclamation of ‘extortion.’