Gang inspired by Bollywood movie 'Special-26 busted, 9 arrested
Darpan News Desk IANS, 17 Nov, 2022 12:40 PM
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) Inspired by Bollywood flick 'Special 26 ', a gang which was trying to extort Rs 15 to 20 crore from the President of a Mumbai-based company by sending them fake notices of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was busted by Delhi Police's Crime Branch.
Police said that they have arrested nine people, including an Assam Rifles Head Constable, of the gang. Meanwhile, a manhunt has been initiated to nab other accused which also includes a Delhi-based lawyer.
The accused have been identified as Akhilesh Mishra, Darshan Harish, Vinod Kumar Patel, Dharmender Kumar Giri, Naresh Mahto, Asrar Ali, Vishnu Prasad, Devender Kumar Dubey and Gajender alias Guddu.
Addressing a press conference, Ravindra Singh Yadav, the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), said that Navi Mumbai resident and the President of Nippon India Paints recently received two notices from ED and subsequently his colleague was informed by one Akhilesh that ED had registered a case against them and soon they will be in deep trouble but he can help them sort out the matter through his sources.
"Akhilesh, his son and Darshan contacted the complainant again and communicated that he had confirmed from ED sources. He promised them that he can sort out the issue with the help of his liaison in the ED office," said Yadav.
The complainant contacted Akhilesh who initially demanded a ransom of Rs 2 to 3 crore and further asked to meet in Delhi.
On November 12, the complainant met accused Akhilesh and Darshan at Mumbai Airport.
"The accused told the complainant that properties worth thousands of crores have been found by ED and this issue will be settled only with payment in crores of rupees. The accused also asked for travelling expenses to go to Delhi and settle things in Delhi's ED office," said the official.
Air tickets for both the accused were booked by the victim and a meeting was also fixed at Ashoka Hotel in Delhi.
"During the meeting, the accused persons upped their demands to Rs 20 crore for negotiation and settlement. The victim then approached police following which a case under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code was registered and investigation was taken up," said the official.
The duo accused was apprehended from the tea lounge area in Ashoka Hotel.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that three of their associates were present in a room in the same hotel.
"Acting on the information, a police team raided the hotel and nabbed Vinod Kumar Patel, Dharmender Kumar Giri and Naresh Mahto from the spot while the other members of the gang Asrar Ali, Vishnu Prasad and Devender Kumar Dubey were apprehended from Khan Market," said the official.
"The whole conspiracy was planned and hatched meticulously and every role was precisely defined and enacted," the official added.
The module is being jointly operated by Canada-based Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa, Pakistan-based Harvinder Singh Rinda and Italy-based Harpreet Singh, alias Happy. The arrested accused has been identified as Yograj Singh, alias Yog, a resident of Rajoke village in Tarn Taran district.
A police officer said that the narcotic substances were recovered from several soap cases kept in hidden chambers in an 18-wheel truck. The police have arrested the driver Hannan Ali. The vehicle was coming from Manipur and the consignment was most probably to be delivered in Guwahati.
Delhi Police had sought the custody of the arrested persons, which was granted by a duty magistrate on Tuesday. The four persons were arrested on Sunday night. Recently, a fresh case under the provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was lodged by the Delhi Police against the members of PFI, which was banned for five years by the Centre last week.
Punjab Police have arrested 5,824 drug smugglers, including 916 big fish, since July 5, Inspector General Sukhchain Singh Gill said here on Tuesday. He said 203 kg heroin was recovered. Additionally, 147.5 kg heroin was recovered by Punjab Police from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 350 kg in just three months.
Farmers under the aegis of Kisan Mazdur Sangarash Committee (KMSC) held protest and rail roko prorgramme at 17 different places in Punjab on Monday to mark the anniversary of Lakhimpur Kheri incident. It may be noted that 8 persons including four farmers had died during a protest in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3, 2021.
Announcing this on the floor of Assembly, he said the farmers will get the additional amount under State Agreed Price (SAP) of sugarcane as compared to the last year. With this decision, the state government will spend additional Rs 200 crore annually to benefit the farmers.
