Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 30: The Delhi Police has busted a gang posing as fake loan recovery agents and arrested four accused involved in a high-tech roadside extortion racket in East Delhi, officials said on Sunday.

According to police, the accused used a mobile application to identify vehicles with pending EMIs and targeted their owners on busy roads by impersonating bank recovery officials.

The case came to light following a complaint by Keshav Kumar, who alleged that he was intercepted near ITO on Vikas Marg on March 26. Occupants of a white car allegedly stopped him, forcibly took him along, assaulted and threatened him before extorting Rs 18,000 via an online transfer.

Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered at Shakarpur police station on March 27, and a special team was constituted to probe the case. Using technical surveillance and local intelligence inputs, police traced the suspects.

Investigations, including mobile data analysis and location tracking, revealed the involvement of individuals from Baghpat. Subsequent raids led to the arrest of four accused — Prince (22), Aakash alias Akku (25), Shivam (23), and Teetu alias Tittu (22).

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to operating as fake recovery agents and using digital tools to identify potential targets. Police said the gang would intercept victims using a car without a number plate and intimidate them by posing as bank officials.

The accused allegedly threatened, assaulted, and wrongfully confined victims before forcing them to transfer money through QR codes or other online payment methods. Victims were released only after payments were made.

Police have recovered five mobile phones used in the crime along with the vehicle involved. Efforts are underway to identify more victims and trace another associate suspected of facilitating financial transactions for the gang.