Three Delhi policemen booked for extortion

Three Delhi Traffic Police personnel were booked for extorting money from a businessman who had stashed in his car over Rs 1 lakh in demonetised Rs 500 notes which he had saved for the marriage of his nephew, police said on Thursday.

Accused Head Constable Suresh Chand and Constables Manoj and Pradeep were posted in Model Town traffic circle. They have been absconding since the incident, police said.

The incident took place on Tuesday when the accused stopped the car of Subhash Pahuja, a resident of Janakpuri, at Adarsh Nagar Metro Station for checking. Pahuja was going to Wazirpur, police said.

During the checking, Manoj and Pradeep slapped a fine on Pahuja's car. When he took out money to pay for the fine from demonetised currency notes of Rs 500 which he kept in the dashboard, the accused threatened to seize his car as he was carrying Rs 1,20,000 in old notes.

"Suresh Chand later joined them and forced Pahuja to give them all the money. They also threw away the SIM card from Pahuja's mobile phone, threatening him with seven years' imprisonment," Deputy Commissioner of Police Milind Mahadeo Dumbere said.

Despite Pahuja pleading that he was carrying the money to make arrangements for his nephew's marriage which is scheduled for December 9, the constables drove Pahuja around for two hours in the car, police said.

They later released Pahuja after extorting the money, Dumbere said.

The constables returned Pahuja's money soon after the incident after he found them standing at Azadpur Chowk and gave them the marriage card of his nephew, and requested them to return his money.

Pahuja, who sells dairy products, complained on Wednesday against the three accused traffic police personnel at Adarsh Nagar Police Station, DCP Dumbere said.

--IANS

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