Delhi: Four men, including a village head from Uttar Pradesh, have been arrested for allegedly sending extortion letters to nine doctors across the capital, posing as members of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s syndicate.
The accused — Rishi Sharma (41), Arun Verma (38), Sabal Singh (45), a gram pradhan from Mainpuri, and Harsh (38), a street vendor-turned-luxury car dealer — were apprehended following a detailed investigation by the Delhi Police.
Extortion Scheme Unveiled
The case came to light when a doctor at Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital filed a complaint after receiving a letter demanding ₹2 lakh as “protection money” within five days, with threats to increase the demand to ₹10 lakh if unpaid. The letter warned of consequences similar to those faced by Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, who was shot dead in 2022.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North West Delhi) Bhisham Singh stated, “Nine other doctors across Delhi received similar letters, including those from Hindu Rao, Safdarjung, and Sir Ganga Ram Hospitals.”
Investigation and Arrests
The police traced the extortion racket to Arun Verma, whose bank account details, though fraudulent, provided leads. Verma, an e-rickshaw operator, was arrested in Ghaziabad. Further investigations linked the case to Rishi Sharma, who confessed to the crime and implicated his associates Sabal Singh and Harsh.
Sabal and Harsh, arrested in Agra, were found to have a history of scams, including fraudulent mobile tower installations. “They devised the extortion plan after their previous schemes stopped yielding results,” Singh revealed.
Modus Operandi
The group sourced a list of doctors and hospitals from the internet, selected targets randomly, and sent letters via Krishna Nagar Post Office. The letters, bearing Lawrence Bishnoi’s name, demanded payments into fraudulent bank accounts opened by Verma.
Seizures
The police recovered 140 forged mobile tower application forms, 11 mobile phones, 3 laptops, 12 ATM cards, and other incriminating evidence from the gang.
Implications
This case highlights the misuse of notorious criminal names to instill fear and extort money, raising concerns about the safety of professionals in the capital. The Delhi Police have assured that security measures are being reinforced to prevent such incidents.
