Ghaziabad Police Apprehend Three in Rs 10 Crore Extortion Scheme
In a significant crackdown, Ghaziabad police have arrested three individuals, including a woman, for their alleged involvement in a high-stakes extortion plot targeting a local businessman. The accused are charged with demanding a staggering Rs 10 crore from the victim while masquerading as members of the notorious Sundar Bhati gang and issuing threats to kidnap and murder his son if the protection money was not paid.
Complaint and Investigation Details
The case came to light when Arpit Gupta, a property dealer based in Indirapuram, filed a formal complaint with the Ghaziabad police commissioner on April 11. Gupta reported that an unidentified person had contacted him via an unknown phone number, claiming affiliation with the Sundar Bhati gang and demanding the massive sum under the threat of severe harm to his family members.
DCP (city) Dhawal Jaiswal confirmed that the crime branch's specialized SWAT team conducted a thorough investigation into the complaint, verifying its legitimacy. Following this, an FIR was officially registered under Section 308(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to extortion by instilling fear of death or grievous injury. The three suspects were subsequently taken into custody on Wednesday.
Identities and Background of the Accused
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Ravindra Singh (39), also known as Robbin, a resident of Dadri.
- Tushar Basoiya (25), a resident of Wave City in Ghaziabad.
- Savita Chaudhary (44), also a resident of Wave City.
During police interrogation, Ravindra Singh disclosed that he operates in the property business and has been acquainted with the victim, Arpit Gupta, for approximately three years. Savita Chaudhary, a friend of Singh's who also works in the property sector, was employed at Gupta's Noida office about six months ago through Singh's connections. However, Gupta terminated Chaudhary's employment just ten days prior to the extortion attempt, which allegedly served as the catalyst for the criminal conspiracy.
Modus Operandi and Execution of the Plan
After Chaudhary was fired, she approached Singh, and together they devised a scheme to extort money from Gupta. To execute their plan, Singh enlisted the help of his maternal cousin, Tushar Basoiya, who is also involved in the property business and maintains an office in Wave City. Basoiya agreed to participate and, through his friend Ansh Mittal, procured a second-hand Redmi multimedia mobile phone for the operation.
The accused obtained a SIM card registered under another person's name to avoid detection. They meticulously moved to various locations to make WhatsApp calls and send threatening messages to Gupta, intensifying their threats over several days before law enforcement intervened. Police have successfully recovered the mobile phone and SIM card used in the crime as crucial evidence.
Ongoing Investigations and Further Inquiries
Authorities are currently delving deeper into the case to ascertain any potential links between the accused and the actual Sundar Bhati gang. Additionally, the role of Ansh Mittal, who supplied the mobile phone to the perpetrators, is under active investigation. DCP Jaiswal emphasized that the police are committed to uncovering all facets of this extortion racket to ensure justice is served and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This arrest highlights the vigilance of Ghaziabad police in combating organized crime and protecting citizens from such predatory threats. The swift action taken by the SWAT team underscores the effectiveness of specialized units in addressing complex criminal activities in the region.
