Businesspersons in Delhi have received around 160 extortion calls as of October this year, averaging nearly one call every other day, leaving the business community on edge.
According to a report by news agency PTI, most of these calls come from gangsters based overseas or their associates, using Voice Over Internet Protocol or international phone numbers, police sources revealed on Tuesday.
Sources further disclosed that the calls were received mostly by builders and property dealers, jewellers, and owners of sweet shops and car showrooms across Delhi.
Incidents Reported In Four Days
In several cases, the extortion threats were followed by gunfire outside the targeted residence or office of the person, according to a source. Last week alone, seven incidents were reported in four days, with gangsters targeting a jeweller, a gym owner, a property dealer, a sweet shop owner, and a motor workshop owner, among others.
In one of the incidents, three men entered a showroom and fired in the air in the Rohini area of Delhi which came to light on November 5. The miscreants left behind an extortion note with the names of gangsters, demanding ransomes. "Yogesh Dahia, Fajje Bhai and Monti Mann and Rs 10 crore", said the note.
In another case on November 7, an international call demanded Rs 7 crore from a gym owner in Nangloi, with the caller claiming affiliation with jailed gangster Deepak Boxer, an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi. The police have registered FIRs in all seven recent cases, and specialised teams from the Special Cell and Crime Branch are working to apprehend the suspects.
According to data from Delhi Police accessed by news agency PTI disclosed that there were 133 reported extortion cases across the capital by August 15 this year. During the same period last year, 141 cases were reported, while 110 cases were recorded in 2022.
Police stated that throughout 2023, a total of 204 cases of people getting extortion calls were reported, and 187 in 2022.
A police officer involved in such cases explained that the extortionists primarily use VOIP numbers or WhatsApp numbers taken on fake SIM cards.
Sources disclosed to police that 11 gangs have been identified as involved in making extortion calls as well as shootings and murders in the Delhi-NCR area. These gangs include Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar, Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu, Himanshu Bhau, Jitender Gogi-Sampat Nehra, Hashim Baba, Sunil Tillu, Kaushal Chaudhary, Neeraj Faridpuria and Neeraj Bawana.