New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Monday apprehended three men, including the alleged mastermind, in connection with an attempt to extort ₹20 lakh from a businessman in outer north Delhi, officials said. The accused reportedly threatened to shoot the victim in public, drawing parallels to a recent high-profile incident in Paschim Vihar, west Delhi.

Details of the Incident

The victim, Rajesh Kumar, a scrap trader residing in Sector 11, Rohini, received a call from an unknown number at around 10:30 pm on January 15, 2026, demanding ₹20 lakh. The caller threatened that Kumar would be shot in publicif he failed to pay the money within 24 hours.

The threats continued the next day, with the caller asserting that he would personally come to collect the money. Due to his pre-existing heart condition, the businessman stayed confined at his residence before approaching the Shahbad Dairy police station to lodge a complaint.

Arrests and Identification of Accused

The police investigation led to the identification and arrest of three individuals:

1. Chirag Mahendru – resident of Rohini Sector 15, alleged kingpin of the extortion racket.
2. Ashutosh Kumar Pandey – taxi driver from Sector 16, Rohini.
3. Ankit Mishra – accountant residing in Sector 16, Rohini.

Authorities said technical surveillance and analysis of call records were pivotal in cracking the case. The investigation revealed that the same mobile handset had been used to make calls from multiple phone numbers, which were subsequently switched off in an attempt to evade detection.

The police tracked the active signal of one of the numbers in real time, leading to a raid in Rohini, where all three accused were apprehended.

Modus Operandi

Preliminary findings indicate that the accused intentionally referenced the Paschim Vihar shooting incident to instill fear and coerce the victim into paying the extortion demand. This suggests that the perpetrators sought to exploit the psychological impact of recent violent events to intimidate their target.

The Delhi Police have indicated that the case is part of a broader probe to ascertain whether the trio was involved in other extortion attempts using similar tactics. The FIR has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with technical and ground intelligence forming the backbone of the investigation.

Police Statement

A senior police officer involved in the case said, “The accused used a single handset across multiple numbers to make extortion calls and attempted to evade detection. Real-time tracking of signals helped us locate and arrest them.”

The officer further noted that the victim’s health condition added urgency to the investigation, as threats of firearm violence against a vulnerable individual were considered particularly serious.

Broader Implications

This case highlights the emerging trend of extortion using high-profile violent incidents as leverage, underscoring the importance of rapid police response and technical surveillance. Delhi Police officials have also cautioned the public to report extortion attempts promptly, emphasizing that quick reporting can prevent escalation and potential physical harm.

As of now, all three accused remain in custody, and the investigation is ongoing to determine if they are part of a larger criminal network operating in Delhi and surrounding areas. Police officials are examining past complaints, financial transactions, and communication patterns to trace any similar extortion cases.