Punjab Man Arrested for Attempted Rs 1 Crore Extortion
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Synopsis
A 24-year-old man was arrested in Punjab for attempting to extort Rs 1 crore from an automobile showroom owner by impersonating as the brother of gangster Goldy Brar. The AGTF apprehended him after he issued death threats and utilized virtual numbers to conceal his identity.
Key Takeaways
- 24-year-old arrested for extortion.
- Impersonated gangster Goldy Brar's brother.
- Demanded Rs 1 crore under threat of death.
- Used technology to hide identity.
- Public urged to report extortion calls.
Chandigarh, April 19 (NationPress) A 24-year-old individual was apprehended in Punjab for trying to extort money from an automobile showroom owner by masquerading as the sibling of the foreign-based gangster Goldy Brar, stated Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Saturday.
The Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) executed the arrest.
The suspect, named Lovejeet Singh, who hails from Faridkot, had demanded an extortion sum of Rs 1 crore and issued death threats to both the victim and his family if the payment was not made.
DGP Yadav confirmed that an initial investigation uncovered that the accused utilized virtual numbers and social media platforms to conceal his identity while making extortion calls to evade law enforcement detection.
He cautioned the public to be vigilant against fraudulent extortion calls, noting that in several recent incidents, unknown criminals, lacking any real gang affiliations, have been exploiting fear by falsely claiming such connections.
"We urge individuals to promptly report any extortion calls to the police so that appropriate legal measures can be enacted," advised the DGP.
Notably, three months prior, the AGTF dismantled a fake extortion operation run from Malaysia, targeting singers, business owners, and wealthy individuals across Punjab.
The perpetrators impersonated members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, using counterfeit social media profiles to intimidate potential victims and their families into paying money.
Detailing the operations, Additional Director General of Police (AGTF) Promod Ban mentioned that upon receiving a complaint regarding extortion, police teams acted swiftly, tracing the origin of the calls through technical means and human intelligence, leading to the identification of the accused, Lovejeet.
The suspect was arrested in Mohali, as per the ADGP.
Further investigations are ongoing to discover any additional connections or crimes tied to the accused.
Assistant Inspector General (AGTF) Gurmeet Chauhan stated that initial inquiries revealed that Lovejeet, enticed by social media and a yearning for a luxurious lifestyle, turned to crime.
"He employed virtual numbers and encrypted applications to hide his identity while making extortion attempts in a bid to avoid police capture," he elaborated.
