Impersonators booked for extortion bid

Ludhiana: Division number 7 police lodged an FIR against a duo for impersonating as scribes and extorting money from a man who runs a government-approved lottery shop in Bahadurke area. The accused — Vishal Shadra and Bhogal of LIG Flats — had allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 per month from complainant Harinder Singh of Dhokka Mohalla.
An FIR has been lodged under Sections 419 (punishment for cheating by personation), 385 (extortion), 506 (Criminal intimidation), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.
On March 1, one of Harinder’s friends shared a video on WhatsApp related to a new illegal lottery. The accused, claiming to be journalists, had taken his name in the video. He arranged their contacts and visited them. The accused asked him to give them Rs 10,000 on a monthly basis to keep their mouth shut. When the complainant asked them for their identity proofs, the accused threatened him.
Thereafter Harinder Singh lodged a complaint with the police. ASI Prem Chand said two accused are yet to be arrested. tnn