Two crime reporters held for extortion

The northeast Delhi police arrested two "crime reporters" for extortion. The two allegedly blackmailed a man - brother to one of them - by threatening to publish negative news reports about him.

The northeast Delhi police arrested two "crime reporters" for extortion. The two allegedly blackmailed a man - brother to one of them - by threatening to publish negative news reports about him.

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The police arrested Sahdev Singh (30) and Shahid Ahmad (37), crime reporters with a local weekly called Vardaat A to Z.

The police apprehended the two from near Bhagirathi Water Works Plant after they received a complaint by a man, Rashid Mehmood.

"We received a complaint from Mehmood who said someone posing as a journalist demanded money from him and threatened to publish a report that says he is a thief who sells and buys stolen utensils," said Sanjay Kumar Jain, deputy commissioner of police (northeast).

According to the police, Mehmood had already paid the "journalists" Rs 15,000, who asked for Rs 10,000 more.

"The reporter, who demanded the amount, was called to the water works plant and he was caught redhanded, with Rs 5,000 in cash that the complainant had delivered," Jain said.

According to the police, Singh conspired with Ahmad to extort money from his brother, Mehmood.

"Singh went to Mehmood's and took some photographs and threatened to publish a story in the newspaper. Being a heart patient, Mehmood got frightened and agreed to pay Singh Rs 15,000," Jain added.

According to the officer, the newspaper was recently registered by a man called Sanjay Gupta.