But Vinay Rai ran out of luck when police apprehended him while he was throwing a threatening letter into the office of his employer.
Police were keeping a close watch of activities outside Lal Babu Mishra's office in Nathu Colony in the national capital after the businessman complained that he was receiving threat SMSes and letters asking Rs 10 lakh be delivered to ensure his and his family's safety.
The team worked with the help of electronic surveillance and mounted a close watch on the office, house and nearby areas of Nathu Colony.
On Saturday, a young boy came and threw a letter inside the office but was apprehended by police.
"On sustained interrogation, he broke down and confessed his involvement in the crime. His father had expired in an accident in 1998 and thereafter, he and his brother bore the responsibility of looking after his family," a senior police official said.
Last year, they constructed a house in their native village by taking money from a lender but was not able to pay back the loan.
"Lal Babu Mishra gave him a marketing job and fixed his salary as Rs 4000. But his debts could not be repaid from this meagre amount. So, he planned to extort money from Lal Babu Mishra," the official said.