2 arrested for extortion bid on shop owner, 1 absconding

Gurgaon: The owner of a Sohna-based newspaper distribution agency filed a complaint against three local goons for allegedly threatening him and seeking extortion money. An FIR was registered at Sohna city police station on Sunday, following which two of the accused were arrested on Monday evening.
Manoj Kumar, a resident of Sohna, who owns a shop — Manoj book depot and Aggarwal news agency — at Sohna bus stand road, told police that Joginder, alias Lala, along with two other accomplices, reached his shop on April 9 and asked him to shut his business.

“Initially, I ignored their threat, but I was surprised when they entered my house on April 11. They said that as I did not follow their order, I would now have to pay 50 per cent profits of the business as protection money. When I resisted, they thrashed me and my children who tried to save me. They threatened me with dire consequences if I did not pay the money. When my children raised alarm and people nearby gathered for help, they fled,” Manoj said.

He added that on April 14, his hawkers denied to distribute the newspapers. “When Manoj Raghav, president of Vyapar Mandal, asked me the reason, I told him about the incident. He asked me to seek police help and file a complaint. My hawkers are also in fear and I want strict action against the accused,” he added.

An FIR was registered against the three accused under sections 387 (putting person in fear of death or grievous hurt in order to commit extortion), 452 (house trespassing), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC at Sohna city police station. Joginder and Chatar Singh were nabbed on Monday while the third accused is absconding.

“We are questioning them about the third accused. They will be produced in a city court on Tuesday,” said inspector Arvind Kumar, SHO, Sohna city police station.