After crackdown on gangs extorting traffic cops in Delhi, Special CP asks officers to report blackmail attempts

These instructions were issued during a meeting chaired by Special CP Thakur on December 4.

On Wednesday, the police said that they had arrested five men in connection with the syndicate, adding that the two gangs had acquired crores of rupees from commercial vehicle drivers and by blackmailing traffic police personnel. The first arrests in the case were made in the last week of November.

The probe revealed that the accused were actively running parallel systems. One gang sold fake stickers to commercial vehicle drivers for Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 per month to bypass entry-point restrictions, while another extorted money from traffic police personnel by fabricating videos of them performing their duties.

According to police, officers are also probing the role of some Traffic Inspectors (TIs) who allegedly assisted the gang and even took a share of the extorted money.

The meeting also included discussions on ensuring minimum inconvenience to the general public during VIP movements. The Special CP directed that traffic should be halted only for the minimum duration necessary for security arrangements.

After weak signal areas were reported in several districts despite operational DTM networks, senior traffic officers were asked to visit these “blank spots” and reassess wireless set requirements, prioritizing major junctions.

Additionally, the Special CP instructed officers to ensure that bus drivers halt their vehicles only at designated bus bays.

Under the directions issued, TIs were asked to continue reporting to their respective traffic circles by 8 am, while DCP’s were instructed to mandatorily conduct field visits daily after 5 pm.