4 impersonators try to extort ₹15 lakh from property dealer, arrested

JAIPUR: The city police on Saturday arrested four persons who allegedly tried to extort ₹15 lakh from a property dealer by impersonating as fake income tax (I-T) officers.

The accused have been identified as Ram Singh(28), his wife Neha Singh(23), Gaurav Singh (21) and Mangal Singh(23).

They are all natives of New Delhi, said Suneel Kumar, the station house officer of Mansarovar police station.

The victim has been identified as Dinesh Sharma. “The accused entered the house of victim, located at Anand Vihar colony near Gopalpura Bypass, around 10am impersonating as fake I-T officers. All of them showed the fake identity cards and documents. After that they took keys of all lockers and almirahs and collected all jewelleries and cash in a bag,” the police officer said.

“The gang members had also taken the phones from Sharma and his wife. Sharma’s son and daughter-in-law were in Ranthambore f or s i ghtseei ng. Around 1pm, Sharma’s son called his father. The accused gave the phone to Sharma and he sounded a bit panicked and cut the phone saying that I cannot talk, I will call you back after an hour,” the officer added.

Suspecting that his father was in some trouble, he asked his wife to call him. When Sharma gave the same reply again, the son contacted his father-in-law and explained him the situation, following which a relative of the victim informed the police.

“The police got the information around 3pm and reached there within five minutes and caught the accused red-handed,” Kumar said.

Sharma said that the accused had also demanded ₹15 lakh from him saying that they will reduce the recovery amount and penalty to some extent.

“Initially, they demanded ₹50 lakh, but I refused and said that I cannot afford to pay it and I am ready to face the repercussion. After which, the lady member of the gang called somebody on phone and said that the accused is not ready to pay the demanded money. After which I accepted to pay ₹15 lakh. They further told me to collect the seized jewellery from room number 105 of I-T o f f i c e i n C- Scheme,” s a i d Sharma.

The accused were arrested under relevant sections of the IPC and further investigation is on.

The accused entered the house of victim, located at Anand Vihar colony near Gopalpura Bypass, around 10am impersonating as fake I-T officer. All of them showed the fake identity cards and documents. After that they took keys of all lockers and almirahs and collected all jewelleries and cash

SUNEEL KUMAR, SHO