By Prateek Chauhan
New Delhi: In one of the biggest crackdowns on organised extortion networks in the national capital, the Anti Robbery and Snatching Cell (ARSC) of the Delhi Crime Branch has filed a sprawling chargesheet of over 3,000 pages against an alleged criminal syndicate accused of blackmailing police personnel and government officials through hidden camera operations, edited videos and fabricated complaints.
The chargesheet has been filed before the designated MCOCA Court in Saket against alleged kingpin Rajkumar alias Raju Meena and two of his close associates under the stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
According to DCP Crime Branch Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, the syndicate had allegedly built a multi-crore extortion empire by systematically targeting on-duty traffic police personnel across Delhi. Gang members allegedly trapped officials by offering small bribes to avoid challans, secretly recording the exchanges and later using edited footage to threaten victims with suspension, vigilance probes and criminal complaints unless large sums of money were paid.
Police described the operation as a highly organised criminal enterprise driven by fear, coercion and financial intimidation.
The chargesheet names Rajkumar alias Raju Meena as the alleged mastermind of the racket, while Mukesh Kumar alias Pakodi and Sanjay Gupta have been identified as active members and facilitators of the syndicate. So far, five accused linked to the network have been arrested, including Jeeshan Ali and Surekha Rani, wife of the alleged kingpin.
Surekha Rani, a practising advocate at Karkardooma Courts, was recently arrested under MCOCA provisions after investigators alleged that several movable and immovable assets acquired through proceeds of crime were held in her name. Police claimed she acted as a beneficiary and custodian of the syndicate’s illegal wealth.
Investigators probing the financial trail uncovered assets and crime proceeds worth more than ₹10 crore, including residential and commercial properties, luxury vehicles, bank deposits and investments allegedly disproportionate to the declared income of the accused.
The Crime Branch also unearthed evidence pointing to an illegal “sticker” or “marka” collection network allegedly operated by the gang. Commercial vehicle operators were reportedly forced to make regular payments in exchange for protection from enforcement action.
Officials said the prosecution case is backed by substantial digital evidence, bank transaction details, property records, witness testimonies and confessional statements. Multiple witnesses have reportedly described a consistent pattern of intimidation, extortion and manipulation carried out by the syndicate over several years.
The FIR in the case was registered by the Crime Branch after approval from the competent authority under provisions of the MCOC Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police officials said further investigation is underway and supplementary chargesheets may follow as investigators continue tracing financial links, properties and other associates connected to the syndicate.
Crime Branch officials termed the filing of the chargesheet a major step towards dismantling an organised criminal network allegedly operating through blackmail, unlawful collections and systematic extortion in the national capital.
(Cover Representative Image: AI Generated)
Anti Robbery and Snatching CellBharatiya Nyaya Sanhitacrime branchDelhiDelhi Crime BranchDelhi-NCRextortionHidden CameraHoney TrapIndiaIPSMaharashtra Control of Organised Crime ActSanjeev Kumar Yadav