AAP MLA’s assistant arrested, named in 17 FIRs on ‘extortion’ charges

Sharma’s boss Manoj Kumar had been arrested in July over charges of land grabbing and later released on bail.
Sharma was arrested over a complaint by a ration shop owner, who alleged that the MLA’s assistant had been extorting Rs 2,000 every month from local shop owners and had threatened to cancel their licenses if they refused to pay up.

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“The complaint was filed by ration shop owners and workers in Gharoli area. On the basis of the complaint, a case was registered under sections 384 (extortion) and 385 (putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion) of the Indian Penal Code,” said a police official.

While seven cases against Sharma each have been lodged at Gazipur and Kalyanpuri police stations, three FIRs have been registered at the New Ashok Nagar police station.

“There is a strong possibility that more complaints, with similar allegations, will be filed in the coming days. As of now, we are trying to ascertain whether Sharma was acting on someone’s behest,” said the official.

Most of the complainants have alleged that Sharma has been extorting Rs 2,000 from each of them for the last few months, said the police.

Sharma had threatened to shut down the shops of those who resisted his demand, the complainants told the police.