Two persons have been arrested for allegedly demanding Rs 60 lakh as protection money from a cloth merchant.
The duo, identified as Sushil Kumar alias Pandit (32) and Naeem (40) have been arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police recently from near Akshardham Temple following a tip off.
Incidentally, the two were friends of the complainant and knew about his "fear psychosis".
They had initially demanded Rs 10 lakh but the amount was raised to Rs 60 lakh when the victim dared to lodge a complaint despite their warning.
As they knew the victim, they had even accompanied him to the police station to keep a tab on police action.
The incident was reported to police on December 7 when Manik Nindwani reported to police that one unknown caller, posing as Rajveer was threatening him of dire consequences and demanding Rs 10 lakh as protection money.
The police then registered an FIR and took up the probe.
"A tip-off was received that two persons, who are involved in this crime, would come to meet their third accomplice at Akshardham temple following which a raiding team laid a trap and arrested the duo," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav.
During interrogation, the duo revealed that they used to sit at a shop of the complainant.
The recently occurred incident of horrific kidnapping-cum-murder of a schoolboy Utkarsh was a matter of continuous discussion among the shopkeepers/businessmen of the area and they were apprehensive about security of their family members.
"The accused had sensed fear of the victim so they conspired to make extortion call to him. It was Sanjay who had made the call posing as Rajveer. The activities of the complainant were being monitored by the other two, Sushil and Naeem.
"They even expressed their sympathy and tendered all possible help. When the complainant visited the police station, Sushil accompanied him to know about the action being taken by police," said Yadav.
