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Chandigarh: In a breakthrough, Haryana Police has busted an inter-state extortion gang and arrested five accused, with officials crediting the success to the state’s ‘Abhedya’ mobile application. The accused have been taken into custody and are being interrogated to trace the wider network. Director General of Police Ajay Singhal lauded the Sonipat Police team for the operation, carried out under the guidance of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
Tech Tracking Helped Crack Case
Police said the gang’s movement was tracked after the ‘Abhedya’ app curtailed the use of international numbers, forcing criminals to switch to local mobile numbers. “As soon as these numbers became active, the technical surveillance system flagged them, enabling swift action,” officials said. Acting on inputs, police conducted a raid in the Bahalgarh area of Sonipat and arrested the accused, all of whom are residents of Narela in Delhi.
Gang Operated Across States
Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang was active across Police said the gang was operating across Delhi, Haryana and other states, targeting business people and professionals for extortion. Police said the accused had demanded ransom from a nutritionist in Sonipat and was allegedly planning firing incidents in different districts to create fear and establish dominance.
The operation was carried out by the Special Unit of Anti-Gangster (SUAG) of Sonipat Police, with officials crediting the success to the state’s ‘Abhedya’ mobile application, which helped track the gang’s movement through local mobile numbers.
According to ACP Headquarters Ajit Singh, all five accused are residents of Narela in Delhi and were working as sharpshooters and logistical aides for gangster Randeep Malik, with links to gangster Deepak Boxer.
Planned Firing at Nutrition Store
Investigations revealed that the accused were planning to open fire at the ‘Pahal Nutrition’ store in Bahalgarh to create panic and establish dominance. Malik had allegedly demanded ₹5 crore as extortion from the store owner.
Role of Accused: Tech + Ground Execution
The accused were allegedly involved in:
- Providing mobile phones and SIMs
- Making threat and extortion calls
- Sharing local intelligence with handlers operating from abroad
- Acting as sharpshooters for planned attacks
Police said the gang used stolen phones and OTP access to enable handlers abroad to operate WhatsApp accounts for extortion calls, a tactic aimed at misleading investigators.
Arms, Phones Seized
During the operation, police recovered:
- Illegal weapons
- Three mobile phones
- Two live cartridges
Officials said these were being used in criminal activities. The accused’s interrogation is underway to identify other members and the gang’s linkages. Police are also examining their involvement in other extortion cases.
‘Abhedya’ App Gains Recognition
Officials said the ‘Abhedya’ app has led to a significant drop in suspicious international calls, improving tracking capabilities. Following its success, police departments in Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Chandigarh have shown interest in adopting the technology. The operation is being seen as a major success in tech-driven policing, highlighting the growing role of digital surveillance in tackling organised crime.
