Ghaziabad men planned to extort from doctor to help poor

The Ghaziabad police arrested a 20-year-old man and his accomplice from Mariam Nagar on Monday for allegedly demanding R50 lakh from a homoeopathic doctor in Ghaziabad.

The Ghaziabad police arrested a 20-year-old man and his accomplice from Mariam Nagar on Monday for allegedly demanding R50 lakh from a homoeopathic doctor in Ghaziabad.

The prime accused, Shivam Tyagi (in blue shirt), said he got the inspiration from a movie and wanted to help the poor by constructing hospitals and charitable institutions from the extorted amount. (Sakib Ali/Hindustan Times)

The prime accused, Shivam Tyagi, said he got the inspiration from a movie and wanted to help the poor by constructing hospitals and charitable institutions from the extorted amount.

Tyagi, a Class 12 open school student, had borrowed a SIM card from a friend to send messages and calls to Dr Anil Tyagi.

“After getting the SIM, the accused called up Dr Tyagi and when he did not respond the calls, he sent text messages. In the SMS, he threatened to kill his family if the doctor failed to pay R50 lakh,” said Avnish Gautam, station house officer, Sihani Gate police station.

“The doctor approached the police and lodged an FIR against unidentified persons. Following investigation through surveillance methods, we nabbed the accused and his accomplice,” Gautam said.

The accused said that he saw the doctor’s name on hoardings at several places and got inspired by a movie.

“The hero in the movie establishes offices and ropes in young men to collect money for helping the poor by targeting people who acquired wealth illegally. Since I had to initially start a similar business, I decided that I should have some considerable funds to establish my own offices,” the suspect said.

So to get the initial amount, I called up the doctor. But when he did not respond to my calls, SMS and threats, I did not pursue the case further,” he said.

The police said that they had booked the two for extortion as the doctor and his family were disturbed by the threats.