<p>A 40-year-old father to eight girls is among two men arrested for making extortion calls to a cloth merchant in east Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar area.<br /><br /></p>.<p>But the alleged mastermind who was actually speaking into the phone during the extortion calls continues to be on the run, said police.<br /><br />The accused had taken advantage of the apprehension in the minds of local shopkeepers and businessmen following the recent Utkarsh kidnapping-cum-murder case, police in a release on Friday.<br /><br />The extortionists raised the amount demanded from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 60 lakh as soon as the victim filed a police complaint, apparently to keep him away from the police. <br /><br />Even as Manik Nindwani was receiving threatening phone calls, the arrested men, Sushil Kumar and Naeem, were monitoring his activities. <br /><br />They extended their sympathies and offered all possible help to Nindwani. <br />They even said they were willing to risk their lives and confront the extortionist at the first opportunity.<br /><br />“Sushil even accompanied the accused to the police station to keep a tab about the action being taken by police,” said police.<br /><br />Nindwani received the first extortion call on December 3. He was told to deliver Rs 5 lakh at Gurgaon toll tax plaza.<br /><br />Ransom increased<br />More calls followed over the next four days after which the victim decided to approach police. The ransom amount was immediately raised to Rs 60 lakh.<br /><br />Police, meanwhile, learnt on Thursday that two persons involved in this crime would be arriving at Akshardham Mandir. A trap was laid and Sushil and Naeem were arrested. <br /><br />Both were found to be transport agents who colleced parcels from shopkeepers and booked them with transport companies for different destinations, police said. <br /><br />They spend considerable time outside the victim’s shop and were friendly with him. <br />“During their interactions with Nindwani, they realised that he was traumatised by the Utkarsh kidnapping-cum-murder case as he would keep raising this topic during discussions. They decided to take advantage of the fear psychosis,” said police.<br /><br />Accomplice on the run<br />The two had roped in another transport agent Sanjay to make the phone calls to the victim. Sanjay continues to be on the run.<br /><br />Utkarsh, a 13-year-old boy from the same area, had been killed a few weeks ago after his jeweller father failed to pay a ransom amount of Rs 1 crore.</p>
<p>A 40-year-old father to eight girls is among two men arrested for making extortion calls to a cloth merchant in east Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar area.<br /><br /></p>.<p>But the alleged mastermind who was actually speaking into the phone during the extortion calls continues to be on the run, said police.<br /><br />The accused had taken advantage of the apprehension in the minds of local shopkeepers and businessmen following the recent Utkarsh kidnapping-cum-murder case, police in a release on Friday.<br /><br />The extortionists raised the amount demanded from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 60 lakh as soon as the victim filed a police complaint, apparently to keep him away from the police. <br /><br />Even as Manik Nindwani was receiving threatening phone calls, the arrested men, Sushil Kumar and Naeem, were monitoring his activities. <br /><br />They extended their sympathies and offered all possible help to Nindwani. <br />They even said they were willing to risk their lives and confront the extortionist at the first opportunity.<br /><br />“Sushil even accompanied the accused to the police station to keep a tab about the action being taken by police,” said police.<br /><br />Nindwani received the first extortion call on December 3. He was told to deliver Rs 5 lakh at Gurgaon toll tax plaza.<br /><br />Ransom increased<br />More calls followed over the next four days after which the victim decided to approach police. The ransom amount was immediately raised to Rs 60 lakh.<br /><br />Police, meanwhile, learnt on Thursday that two persons involved in this crime would be arriving at Akshardham Mandir. A trap was laid and Sushil and Naeem were arrested. <br /><br />Both were found to be transport agents who colleced parcels from shopkeepers and booked them with transport companies for different destinations, police said. <br /><br />They spend considerable time outside the victim’s shop and were friendly with him. <br />“During their interactions with Nindwani, they realised that he was traumatised by the Utkarsh kidnapping-cum-murder case as he would keep raising this topic during discussions. They decided to take advantage of the fear psychosis,” said police.<br /><br />Accomplice on the run<br />The two had roped in another transport agent Sanjay to make the phone calls to the victim. Sanjay continues to be on the run.<br /><br />Utkarsh, a 13-year-old boy from the same area, had been killed a few weeks ago after his jeweller father failed to pay a ransom amount of Rs 1 crore.</p>
