Youths impersonate as ED officials to extort money from traders, banks; gang busted, 5 held

New Delhi: On the basis of complaint from Enforcement Directorate (ED), Delhi Police, Crime Branch apprehended five persons, aged around 24 to 35 years and residents of Delhi NCR, who were involved in extortion and cheating traders and other persons by impersonating themselves as ED officials. All these accused persons were arrested and produced before the Court on 27.08.2020 by Delhi Police for remand and the Court has granted 3 days remand of these accused for custodial interrogation.

During recent past, it has come to the notice of ED that fake letters in the name of ED were sent to various banks and certain individuals in Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi by certain unscrupulous elements. In the fake notice to the banks instruction were given for freezing of bank accounts of innocent traders/individuals. Similarly fake summons/letters were issued to traders and individuals asking them to appear in the office of ED.

After conducting initial verifications, clarifications were issued to the banks with direction to file police complaints for such fake letters. Similarly immediate clarifications have also been made to the individuals about the fake letters/summons. Complaints have been made to Director General of Police Karnataka and Delhi for apprehending the accused. ED has been pursuing with these States Police to the bring these accused to book involved in harassing the innocent people.

The above mentioned 5 accused have been arrested on the basis of a complaint from a Maharashtra based individual alleging that somebody has approached him with fake notice of ED and demanded money for settlement of their purported case in ED. The said complaint was forwarded by ED to Delhi Police and, on the basis of proactive action and swift investigation, the culprits involved in the racket have been apprehended by Delhi Police.

ED has been proactively pursuing with other States Police for apprehending culprits involved in harassing the public in the guise of ED officials.