Man poses as MCD official, extorts Rs 1.75 lakh from Defence Colony resident, held: Delhi police

On May 20, police said the elderly complainant approached the Defence Colony police reporting an incident where a man visited their house on May 9, saying he was an official from MCD’s Horticulture Department. He accused the family of not maintaining clean drains and threatened a challan of Rs 50,000 along with disconnection of their electricity meter. He then demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000 to settle the matter.

When the woman initially refused, police said the accused escalated his threats, warning he would sabotage her son’s marriage. Out of fear, she handed over Rs 25,000 in cash. A few days later, on May 13, police said the man returned, repeating his threats. This time, he demanded Rs 50 lakh.

Police said the woman’s husband, worried for their son’s future, complied and delivered Rs 1.5 lakh in cash at a location near the Modi Mill flyover. The man continued harassing the family and demanded the remaining amount, prompting them to file a police complaint.

Police examined footage from more than 100 CCTVs and analysed call detail records, which revealed the accused had changed his mobile number. “The team tracked and identified the accused person who took the extorted money from the complainant. The photo of the man was developed and circulated among police groups… Local sources were deployed and human intelligence was collected. A list of criminals released from jail on bail was scrutinised,” said DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan.

“A raid was conducted at Okhla and the man was arrested. He admitted to the crime,” the DCP said.