Police busts extortion racket, four arrested

Police today claimed to have busted an extortion racket which was being run from high security Tihar jail here, following the arrest of Naveen alias Bali -- a close aide of dreaded criminal Neeraj Bawania -- and his three associates.
According to police, Naveen who was lodged in Tihar jail was running the racket with the help of Vishal, Nizam (a Sharp-shooter of the Bawania gang) and Santosh Bahadur, who is a resident of Nepal.
"While Bali was arrested from jail, his three associates were nabbed on March 10 following a tip off. With these arrests, we have got very close to the kingpin Neeraj Bawania. We are confident of nabbing him soon," DCP (Special Cell) Rajiv Ranjan said.

Three fire-arms, mobile phone instruments and SIM cards used in commission of crime have been recovered from their possession and an extortion racket, being run from the Tihar Jail has been busted, he added.
Police has received a tip off that some criminals were trying to extort money from a businessmen. Further probe revealed that Naveen, presently lodged in Tihar jail and earlier in Faridabad Jail, is the mastermind of an extortion racket.
He has previously been involved in 14 cases of murder, robbery/dacoity, attempt to murder, extortion, arms act, abduction etc.

"On March 10, sources informed that the active associates of accused Naveen, identified as Vishal, Nizam and others would come to Sector-17, Rohini in a car and they would be carrying illegal weapons as they have to go to threaten one Lalit Mathur - a complainant - at his office situated at Sector-11, Rohini," Ranjan said.

Acting on tip off, police took position and at about 9.30 PM, we intercepted Vishal, Nizam and Santosh in a car. They were riding in the car with black films, where it was not possible from outside to see the activities inside the car. All the three accused persons were possessing illegal sophisticated loaded weapons and hence they were arrested.
Later on, a production warrant was got issued and Naveen alias Bali was arrested from Tihar and were taken on Police Custody. Further investigation into the matter is in progress. Other accused persons are being identified and are being traced at their hideouts, police said.