NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has arrested four men and busted a honey-trap and extortion racket in which they allegedly posed as police officers and extorted money from victims through dating applications, officials said.
On May 12, police laid a trap near Kalyan Jewellers, Rajouri Garden and intercepted a suspected vehicle during the operation. Three accused initially fled while Sushil Kumar (53) from Najafgarh was caught on the spot along with the victim.
During interrogation Sushil disclosed associates Deepak Vinod and Neeraj who were later arrested. Investigation found gang members created fake female profiles on dating apps called victims to public places and then took them to rented flats where fake police raids were staged.
They impersonated police officers to threaten victims with false rape cases and demanded large settlement money. In one case complainant met a woman named Kirti through a dating app was called to Janakpuri and taken to a flat where four accused including one in uniform threatened him and demanded Rs 15 lakh.
Deepak allegedly created fake female profiles while Vinod and Neeraj helped provide accounts and funds Sushil had earlier been involved in similar cases and was arrested in 2017 Deepak was also addicted to gambling and suffered financial losses.
All four were arrested from different locations after coordinated raids and are being interrogated, police said.
Sushil used to impersonate a police official during fake raids while Deepak’s role was to create fake profiles and lure targets The gang operated across Delhi-NCR and used fear of criminal cases to extract money through ATM withdrawals and cash settlements, officials added.