Five arrested in Delhi in extortion case

Five individuals were apprehended for attempting to extort Rs 2 crore from a businessman and firing a bullet at his employee, allegedly influenced by online gangster content, police said on Tuesday.

“On April 18, a report of gunfire at a godown in Najafgarh was received by the police. Upon investigation, it was discovered that two unidentified individuals on a scooter had targeted Sanjay, a cleaner,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh.

“The shot narrowly missed Sanjay and struck the wall behind him, causing minor injuries to his hand. Upon raising an alarm, the assailant fled the scene,” the DCP elaborated.

The apprehended suspects are Sunny Shah (22), Nikhil (20), Lakshay (22), Shiv Prakash (18), and Inderjeet (26), according to the police.

The businessman’s son received a threatening call on April 19, demanding Rs 2 crore, under threat of violence.

“Based on CCTV footage, shooter Sunny Shah and two co-conspirators, Lakshy Bhardwaj and Nikhil, along with their associates, Shiv Parkash and Inderjeet, were apprehended on April 19. The accused admitted to being influenced by notorious gangster videos on social media,” explained the DCP.

Sunny, a former electrician at the victim’s godown, allegedly disclosed details about the businessman to his accomplices and devised the extortion scheme.

“To execute the extortion plot, Sunny and his associates procured a stolen mobile phone SIM and scooter, while Sunny obtained a firearm from his village,” the DCP disclosed.

Further investigations revealed the involvement of Sunny, Shiv, and Inderjeet in previous criminal activities.

The accused have been charged under sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as the Arms Act. The investigation is ongoing, the DCP concluded. (With inputs from PTI)