Police nab two for extortion

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police crime branch arrested two members of a murder-cum-extortion gang of Shalimar Bagh on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police crime branch arrested two members of a murder-cum-extortion gang of Shalimar Bagh on Thursday.

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Basant Verma (30) and Naveen (30) were part of a gang that demanded extortion money from families.

Police said that specific information was received on September 28 that some of the identified culprits involved with the gang would gather near Nyay Chowk in Swaroop Nagar to meet their other associates for search of new hideouts and making arrangements for expenses. Police apprehended Basant and Naveen here on September 29.

“Both confessed to their crimes. They also revealed the names of their accomplices, Harsimran, alias Badal.

Further efforts are being made to nab Harsimran and other remaining gang members,” said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime).

Earlier, two complainants from Shalimar Bagh had lodged an FIR stating that in broad day light, Harsimran along with at least 10 accomplices had tried to ransack their premises, created chaos and terrorized their families.

Harsimran had reportedly extended threats to kill for daring to file case against him. He demanded Rs 10 lakh and Rs 7 lakh from the complainants. A case under sections 451 (house trespass), 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt in order to commit extortion), 34 (common intention) of the IPC was registered on September 16 at the Shalimar Bagh police station.

Basant has been previously arrested in two cases- attempt to murder and possession of illegal arms.

He is working as a newspaper advertisement commission agent.

Naveen is unemployed. His father is a retired sub-inspector of the Haryana Police and his brother is serving as a constable.