New Delhi: Several businessmen in east Delhi recently received extortion calls from gangsters, sending police into a tizzy. This comes two weeks after criminals went on a rampage in Dwarka district with extortion demands. Multiple arrests were made later. However, there is no breakthrough yet in the current cases.
A businessman received extortion calls from the Jaipal Bhullar group, demanding “protection money” of Rs 1 crore, sources said. The caller threatened to eliminate him and his family if the money was not paid. The businessman rushed to the nearest police station to file a complaint. Sources said there could be more victims of this gang who were not coming forward due to fear.
The group seems to be a new entrant in the extortion scene of the capital. It was mainly active in Punjab until now. In 2021, Jaipal and his aide Jaspreet were gunned down by police from Punjab and West Bengal in their hideout in Kolkata. They were staying in a flat in New Town after murdering two ASIs of Punjab Police. Since then, multiple gangsters have controlled the group, including Amritpal Singh, Saaraj Bau and Chandu Ferozpuria.
In the second incident, another businessman received extortion calls from Dubai-based gangster Rashid Cablewala. Sources said the calls came on March 11 from two different numbers. The callers threatened him and demanded Rs 3-4 crore.
“In one call, the caller told him that it was they who previously fired at him to threaten him, and warned that if he didn’t pay, he would be shot,” said an officer of the eastern range. The victim subsequently filed a complaint at Jagatpuri police station, following which an FIR was filed on Tuesday. Police are investigating the matter.
Special CP Ravindra Yadav is learnt to have informed the counter-intelligence unit of the special cell about the flurry of extortion calls, requesting them to participate in the investigation.
Police are also looking into the allegations of an inspector from the same unit offering to get the matter resolved. The cops also verifying reports of some policemen attending a party thrown by the complainant, besides his alleged link with bookies, sources said.
Of late, the counter-intelligence unit has been active in Shahdara and nearby areas, reportedly due to its investigation. Earlier this month, allegations surfaced that the unit illegally detained a suspect in connection with the investigation in the murder of businessman Sunil Jain last Dec.
