Delhi Police have dismantled a significant extortion racket, arresting eight individuals. The gang demanded INR 50 million from a property dealer in Narela, using gunfire outside his office to instill fear. The mastermind behind this scheme is 'Zora,' who claims to be the brother of the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and directs operations from Australia.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Hareshwar Swamy, the gangster Zora was coordinating with his operatives in India through an encrypted messaging app from Australia. His IP address was linked to Western Australia, though police suspect he could be utilizing a VPN. Investigations revealed that Zora requested target photos from his operatives before ordering shootouts.
On the night of September 14, there was sudden gunfire outside the property dealer's office on Main Safiababad Road in Narela. Two assailants on a stolen motorcycle fired indiscriminately and fled, leaving one person injured and four empty cartridges at the scene. Simultaneously, the complainant received a threatening international call demanding INR 50 million.
Assailants Tempted with Promises of INR 500,000 Each
Following the incident, a case was filed at the Narela police station under the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act. Given the serious nature of the case, a special investigation team was formed. Based on technical surveillance, CCTV footage, and intelligence inputs, three shooters were apprehended on September 18, identified as Dinesh, Saurabh, and Hemant alias Akshay. They were lured with promises of INR 500,000 each.
Zora Crafted the Entire Operational Blueprint
Continuing their systematic crackdown, police arrested additional gang members, including arms suppliers Ashish Tyagi and Vansh Malik, operations handler Rahul alias Pistol, and financiers Sandeep alias Sunny and Sachin, captured from Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Interrogations revealed that Zora had drafted the entire operation's blueprint, with Rahul alias Pistol providing shooters with shelter and resources.
Key Evidence Contained on Gang's iPad
Ashish Tyagi and Vansh Malik arranged arms and vehicles, while finances were managed by Sunny and Sachin. The police recovered pistols used in the shooting, a stolen motorcycle, several conspiracy-linked mobile phones, an iPad, and chat records which unveil the gang network's connections. Now, efforts are underway to capture the remaining fugitives associated with this gang.
Overseas-Governed Gang Poses Challenges for Police
The investigation into the gang's funding sources and the depth of this internationally-controlled network is ongoing. This case highlights the attempts to instill panic in Delhi-NCR, leveraging names of imprisoned notorious gangsters. Such internationally-operated gangs present new challenges for the Delhi Police, though ongoing actions are addressing these threats.
