The Koh-e-Fiza police on Thursday arrested three more members of an organised gang allegedly involved in several honey-trap and extortion cases across the city. With these latest arrests, the total number of individuals in custody has risen to six, though the woman used as a decoy and other key members remain at large. The apprehended suspects have been identified as Abhishek Meena, 25, Neeraj Khange, 20, and Amit Oswal, 19.

 

According to the police, the trio played active roles in executing the trap alongside previously arrested members, including Abhishek Upadhyay, 26, Akash alias Bhura Haddi, 28, and Ram Thakur, 40. In a startling revelation, further investigations have revealed that a portion of the money extorted from the complainant, Rakesh Khemania, was transferred to the bank account of Seema, the fiancee of the prime accused, Akash alias Bhura Haddi. Based on this discovery, Seema has come under intense police suspicion, and the financial transactions linked to her account are currently being scrutinised. Interestingly, Seema had recently visited the

 

Police Commissioner’s office with her family, requesting that Bhura be allowed to marry her before being sent to jail, as their wedding was scheduled for the same day the gang was busted. Investigators are now verifying whether she had any active role or prior knowledge of the extortion racket. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mayur Khandelwal stated that interrogations have revealed a well-planned racket targeting victims in various localities, including Shahjahanabad, Shyamla Hills, Koh-e-Fiza, Gandhi Nagar and Bairagarh. The gang’s modus operandi involved using a woman to lure unsuspecting men to a secluded room under the pretext of a meeting. Once the victim arrived, other gang members would storm the premises, assault the individual, and threaten to implicate them in a false rape case. In several instances, the gang reportedly recorded objectionable videos or took photos to blackmail victims into paying large sums of money. Investigators noted a peculiar detail: All gang members reportedly have the word illegal tattooed on their necks, serving as a symbol of their criminal group identity.

 

One of the prime accused, Akash alias Bhura Haddi, is a habitual offender with 31 criminal cases against him, including a murder charge. Kohe Fiza Police Station In-charge K G Shukla stated that the gang had been operating for a long time, targeting several traders and businessmen. “Many victims avoided the police due to fear. Now that the gang has been exposed, we expect more victims to come forward,” Shukla added. Manhunt for Female Decoy and Key Associate Police revealed that the group has a much wider network than initially suspected, with at least eight more members currently absconding. Among those on the run are Saanvi, the woman allegedly used as the decoy, and her boyfriend Taufiq alias Shooter, believed to be a mastermind of the operation.