Police arrested a trader who took to extortion to cover the loss from his failed business, six years after he sent his first threatening letter.
Businessman Ashok Suri alias Bobby, 39, of Delhi's Kamla Nagar, was arrested Saturday from North Delhi's Model Town area with an extortion letter which was to be sent to a businessman.
Police said he used to send threatening letters to his targeted victims, but could not get any extortion money from them as they lodged complaints with the police.
"He only chose businessmen and doctors belonging to Delhi and Haryana's Faridabad who were known to him and able to pay his extortion demands," said Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), Ravindra Yadav.
"Inspired by crime serials like 'Vardaat', 'Sansani', 'Dial 100' and 'CID', he chose extortion to become rich, and started sending threatening letters through courier so police could not get any clue about him," said Yadav.
Police faced a tough time in identifying him as the envelopes containing the extortion letter did not have any sign or sticker as usually seen in other couriers. He used to send the letters through unauthorised couriers of the area that did not ask for his name and address.
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In 2007, he wrote the first letter to one of his relatives who runs a transport company and resides in Delhi's Rajouri Garden area, threatening to kill his entire family if his demand of Rs.30 lakh was not met.
"Suri terrorised the family so much that they shifted to west Delhi's Rohini after selling their home at a throwaway price," said the officer.
"When police came into action after the incident, he decided not to pursue his threat and kept mum for years. Thereafter, he again started issuing threatening letters to targeted people," said the officer.
The officer said Suri sent more than seven letters, five this year, including one to a retired army officer.
Suri, during interrogation, told police he took to crime after incurring a loss of Rs.40 lakh in his local fan manufacturing business being run from Delhi's Basai Darapur area.