Extortion by conmen 'cops' on New Year's Day

Elaborate arrangements for regulating on New Year’s first day was misused by two men who resorted to extortion by posing as Delhi Traffic Police personnel in uniform and illegally checking commercial vehicles in east Delhi’s Geeta Colony.

The accused were threatening to impound vehicles and demanded Rs 200 as bribe. They were overpowered and apprehended by a Delhi Police constable, the police said on Thursday.

The accused have been identified as Ramesh Chand, 35, and Raj Kumar, 42, both residents of Gharwali Mohalla in Laxmi Nagar. According to the police, a call was made to the police control room on Wednesday, but they were held due to presence of mind shown by police constable Sohanvir.

“A PCR call was received at about 12.30 pm about two traffic policemen illegally checking commercial vehicles at Shakarpur Chungi underpass on the road from Akshardham temple towards Geeta Colony,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla.
Constable Sohanvir was also passing by the spot when he noticed two men in traffic police uniform stopping commercial vehicles.

Ramesh and Raj tried to run away on seeing Sohanvir, but were apprehended. “They were wearing blue jackets, blue trousers and black shoes to pose as traffic police staff,” Shukla added.

The PCR call was subsequently received by Gandhi Nagar circle staff as well as Laxmi Nagar T-point staff. They immediately reached the spot. The complainant Suresh, who is a Trilokpuri resident, narrated the whole episode as to how Ramesh and Raj stopped his vehicle, checked his documents, threatened to impound his vehicle and demanded Rs 200 as bribe.

“The presence of mind shown by constable Sohanvir and Suresh was not only appreciated by large number of public who gathered at the spot, but they are also being rewarded by senior police officers,” Shukla said.

A case of cheating, extortion and attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life under Indian Penal Code has been filed with Shakarpur police station.