4 booked for extorting money in vegetable market in Ludhiana

The accused were standing at the entrance of the vegetable market and charging ₹20 as parking fee from each vehicle coming to supply vegetables

Basti Jodhewal police on Sunday booked four persons for impersonating workers of the mandi board and extorting money from those coming to the vegetable market near the Jalandhar Bypass.

The mandi near Jalandhar Bypass in Ludhiana had recently seen a huge gathering of vendors despite the restrictions on movement amid the Covid-19 outbreak. (HT FILE)

The accused have been identified as Sanjeev, Nona, Raju and Jeevan Ram.

Inspector Parmod Kumar, station house officer (SHO) at Jodhewal police station, said, “We received information that some people were standing at the entrance of the vegetable market and charging ₹20 as parking fee from vehicles coming to supply vegetables.”

Following the information, police conducted a raid at the vegetable market but the accused managed to escape.

“One of the accomplices of the accused is yet to be identified,” said the SHO.

Police also found that the accused were issuing slips that had ‘mandi board’ printed on them, but they had no signature or stamp of the mandi board officials.

Kumar said that the accused were letting the vehicles come inside the vegetable market, violating the order of deputy commissioner Pradeep Agarwal that no vehicle can enter the market.

A case under Section 384 (extortion) and 188 (orders duly promulgated by public servant) of the India Penal Code have been registered against the accused. A hunt is on for their arrest. Police are also probing to know if any official of the mandi board is involved.