Noida Police have arrested three persons, including a retired Sub-Inspector of Border Security Force (BSF), a constable of BSF and a constable of Delhi Police on Thursday for extortion from a doctor in Noida while posing as operatives of Indian Mujahideen (IM).
The accused had used a fake letterhead of IM to demand ransom of `30 lakh from Dr Vinay Bhatt, a permanent resident of Kashmir and presently living in Noida. The BSF men were posted in Special Protection Group (SPG) while third accused was deputed in Prime Minister’s security entourage.
“The letter stated that the amount was sought for the “daily bread and butter, survival and progression of the organization”. The letter also instructed Dr Bhatt would be conveyed instructions via local operatives in Delhi/NCR regarding mode, time and place of payment.
They also warned that the family was under constant surveillance and would risk being shot by the outfit’s sharp shooters if they showed defiance. The family received its first threat call on August 23 and was shocked to see the number flashing on the phone screen as their own,” said Preetinder Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Gautam Buddh Nagar.
These calls were made through a software entitled www.crazycall.net which enabled a user to flash the mobile number of his choice. Those arrested have been identified as Pawan Kumar, 45, retired BSF sub-inspector and the mastermind, Vikash Choudhary, 28, and Paramjeet Bhatia, 30. Police said that Pawan Kumar was a patient of Dr Bhatt at Yashoda Hospital in Ghaziabad.
“Forensics is scanning the letters sent to the family. We have also seized a 9 mm pistol from Vikash Choudhary which he took after stealing the ID card of a commando deployed at security line in East Delhi,” said the SSP.