Gurugram police probe extortion racket at Banjara market

After the recent incident, more shopkeepers are coming up with complaints and the matter seems to be serious, police officials said

Published on: Nov 29, 2021, 00:12:21 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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A day after a 41-year-old man was arrested for allegedly assaulting a shopkeeper at Banjara market in Sector 56 who refused to pay “protection” money to a group of locals, the district police on Sunday launched a probe into the alleged extortion racket being run in the area.

The shops, most of which sell furniture and handicrafts, have come up illegally over the past 15 years in the area, police said. (HT Archive)

After the recent incident, more shopkeepers are coming up with complaints and the matter seems to be serious, police officials said. Police on Saturday registered a case of extortion against 15 people at Sector 53 police station.

Police said there are small eateries and shops in the sector whose owners are being forced to pay anything between ₹2,000 and ₹6,000 a month to some local goons and those who denied were assaulted and threatened for life.

Sanjeev Balhara, assistant commissioner of police, said that police have launched a probe into the racket.

Police arrested suspect Sitam on Saturday in connection with the assault case. “We have taken the suspect in police custody and are questioning him regarding his extortion business. He was running an extortion racket,” Balhara said.

Balhara said he has formed several teams that are visiting Sector 56 and are questioning the shopkeepers and cart owners if they are also paying protection money to goons.

Police said there are no CCTV cameras installed in the Banjara market as the shopkeepers have encroached upon the land owned by the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP).

Police said the 25-acre plot, where the market is operating, is earmarked for the construction of a college, a bus stand and group housing societies, among others.

The shops, most of which sell furniture and handicrafts, have come up illegally over the past 15 years in the area and despite repeated notices by the authority, the owners are not vacating the land, said police.

Asha Rani, wife of the victim who was assaulted on Friday night, said that the goons extort money from all the shopkeepers. “There have been several incidents where these goons have assaulted the shopkeepers who refused to pay them. Earlier no one complained to police fearing for their life. But now, some shopkeepers, with the help of visitors and buyers, are approaching police,” she said.

When asked about the encroachment, an HSVP official seeking anonymity said, “The authority has already started an anti-encroachment drive across the city. Action will also be taken in Sector 56.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More