Delhi: 62-year-old fake cop, accomplice booked for extortion
A 62-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly extorting money from people by posing as a police officer along with his accomplice in south-east Delhi. The two accused have been identified as Vijay Verma, a resident of Ghaziabad, and his accomplice Eliyaz (44), a resident of Laxmi Nagar who works as a goldsmith and used to buy gold articles from Verma, police said.
Verma cheated businessman threatening to send him to Tihar Jail
In February when one Rajiv (from Gujarat) visited IFCI Tower, Nehru Place, for some work, Verma, who was on a two-wheeler, stopped his auto. Introducing himself as a policeman, Verma told the businessman that he's been keeping surveillance over his activities since morning and asked him to pay the driver. Once the driver left, he started threatening Rajiv of sending him to Tihar Jail.
Accused extorts Rs. 55,000 from the victim
Verma told Rajiv that if he wants to go back to Gujarat safely, he has to pay him. The victim paid him Rs. 10,000 from his pocket and gave a gold ring worth Rs. 45,000. He demanded more money and asked Rajiv to go to an ATM. When Rajiv came back after withdrawing money, Verma wasn't there. Rajiv then realized that he's been cheated.
Verma cheated another person over scooter's number plate
A similar incident was reported at the Kalkaji police station recently in June wherein the complainant, who runs a shop near Satyam Cinema, was stopped by the accused, Verma, who was posing as a policeman. The accused told that the number plate of his scooter is not proper and that he will have to go with him to his senior's office.
Accused asks victim to remove gold chain and ring
Verma then took the complainant towards Kailash Colony on his two-wheeler and asked him to remove his gold chain and ring saying his seniors will get infuriated. The complainant removed his gold chain and ring and gave them to Verma who wrapped them in his handkerchief and threw it in a nearby park. The accused later asked complainant to pick up his articles.
Police finds identification mark of accused through complainants' statements
The complainant went inside the park and only found Verma's handkerchief and his gold chain and ring were missing. When he came out of the park, he found that Verma was not there. The Delhi Police then set up a team and interactions with the complainants disclosed that the accused has a tattoo that reads "Surekha" engraved on his right hand.
Police nabs Verma through a tip-off
Recently, police received a tip-off about a person having a similar description and riding on a scooter roaming in Nehru Place and claiming to be from Crime Branch to various persons visiting US Visa Centre there. A police team swung into action and apprehended the accused near Hotel Eros Intercontinental. During interrogation, the accused broke down and admitted to having committed the offenses.
Eliyaz helped Verma dispose off the gold jewelry
Verma also said he has duped many more people and disposed of the gold jewelry taken from them through a goldsmith, Eliyaz. Police then arrested Eliyaz, too.
