Three associates of Kala Jatheri gang involved in extortion bids arrested: Delhi Police

Delhi Police arrested three members of the Kala Jatheri gang, who are accused of firing shots outside the offices of property dealers in the national capital to extort money, the police reported on Monday.

The arrested individuals are Rohit Lather (31), a fire safety expert with no previous criminal history; Ritik Lather (19), a wrestling enthusiast; and Jugesh alias Yogi (25), a rickshaw driver with a criminal background involving extortion and other offences.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), Ankit Kumar Singh, the gang was allegedly led by Aman Lather, also known as Jony, who operated from the United States.

“Aman Lather reached the US via the illegal ‘donkey route’ in February 2023. Operating under the alias Jony, he made extortion calls on behalf of the Kala Jatheri gang,” Singh stated.

Police sources revealed that after arriving in the US, Aman met gangster Goldy Brar, a close associate of Lawrence Bishnoi.

The investigation began on November 25, when police apprehended Yogi in Dwarka with two pistols, 11 live cartridges, and a stolen motorcycle. Yogi had been evading arrest by moving across several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.

“Multiple teams were subsequently formed to apprehend Rohit and Ritik. Rohit, a B.Tech graduate, played a crucial role in the gang’s operations,” Singh said.

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“Rohit provided financial and logistical support, including weapons and shelter for gang members. Ritik was also a key player in the gang’s operations,” the DCP added.

Both suspects were arrested in their home village in Haryana, Singh confirmed.

During the investigation, the police uncovered several high-profile extortion cases tied to the gang in the Dwarka area.

One such case involved gang members firing shots at a builder’s office in Mohan Garden on May 31, with a similar attack the following day, leaving a note with the names “Jony Bhai” and “Kala Jathedi.”

The attackers were later arrested after an encounter with another Delhi Police team.

A similar incident occurred in the same area on September 2, with another builder, Singh said, noting that these incidents demonstrated the gang’s tactic of using violence to intimidate influential individuals into paying extortion money.

“The gang’s operations were managed by Aman Lather via social media and encrypted communication to avoid detection,” Singh explained.

“Lather also coordinated the logistics, including acquiring and transporting weapons. He also promised his associates help with travelling to the USA using forged documents,” he added.

(With inputs from PTI)