Fake gang threat: Two arrested for extorting businessman using int’l number

New Delhi: Two businessmen from Haryana have been arrested for posing as members of the Kala Jathedi gang and allegedly extorting a Delhi businessman through threatening calls made using an international number.

The accused, Rajan Kalra, 26, from Yamunanagar and Sahil Garg, 38, a medical equipment trader from Jagadhari, had no links with the gang and used its name to intimidate the complainant, police said.

DCP (north west) Akanksha Yadav said, “The case came to light after a resident of Adarsh Nagar who runs a plastic glue tape manufacturing business in Bawana, approached police alleging that he had been receiving threatening WhatsApp calls from international numbers.”

According to investigators, Jain had an ongoing financial dispute with Sahil Garg, who had earlier lodged a complaint against him at Adarsh Nagar police station alleging cheating and non-payment of Rs 2.9 crore.

Police said the callers claimed to be members of the Kala Jathedi gang and demanded the disputed amount. They told the complainant they had already taken Rs 50 lakh as advance to recover the money and threatened to kill him if he did not pay. Audio recordings of the calls were submitted as evidence.

An FIR was registered on June 7 under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to extortion and criminal intimidation. Multiple teams were formed to trace the accused.

Yadav said technical surveillance helped track the suspects across Karnal, Jagadhari, Yamunanagar and Chandigarh. Police first nabbed Kalra, and based on his disclosure, arrested Garg.

During questioning, both accused admitted to their role. Police said they used one international and one Indian number to make the calls.

Three mobile phones used in the crime — two from Kalra and one from Garg — were recovered.

Further investigation is underway.