NEW DELHI: The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police on Friday busted a specialised cheating racket with the arrest of its female kingpin, who had been evading arrest for nearly three years.The accused, identified as Paro, was apprehended in the Bawana area on April 9 after a detailed operation. She had been declared a proclaimed offender in two separate cases and was a key suspect in at least three major cheating cases registered at the I.P. Estate and Mandir Marg police stations.Police said the gang specifically targeted women who appeared alone or vulnerable in public places such as hospital premises and temple areas. The accused would approach victims on the pretext of offering help or sharing personal experiences, and gradually manipulate them psychologically.Officials added that in several cases, victims were misled by creating a sense of imminent danger or bad luck, after which the accused allegedly stole their gold ornaments and other valuables before fleeing the spot.In one such incident in April 2023, a woman was targeted at LNJP Hospital and cheated of her gold jewellery using a similar modus operandi.A dedicated Crime Branch team analysed CCTV footage from around 50 locations and, based on technical surveillance and local intelligence, apprehended the accused from the Bawana area on April 9.Police said efforts are underway to arrest other absconding members of the gang and to verify the accused’s involvement in similar cases.On March 29, the Delhi Police arrested four members of a tech-enabled gang in East Delhi for impersonating recovery agents and extorting money from vehicle owners using EMI data accessed through a mobile application.The accused allegedly assaulted a victim near ITO and forced him to transfer Rs 18,000 online.Police identified the accused as Prince, Shivam, Teetu, and Aakash, all residents of Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh. They were arrested by a team from Shakarpur Police Station in East District following a detailed investigation based on technical surveillance and local intelligence inputs.According to police, the gang used a mobile application, identified as the “Easy Recovery App,” to track vehicles with pending EMIs. They would then intercept vehicle owners on busy roads, posing as authorised recovery agents of financial institutions.The case came to light after an incident on March 26 near ITO on Vikas Marg, where the accused allegedly wrongfully restrained and assaulted a victim, forcing him to transfer Rs 18,000 online.Following the complaint, a case was registered at Shakarpur Police Station and an investigation was launched. Police teams analysed CCTV footage and digital footprints, which led to the identification and arrest of the four accused.During interrogation, the accused revealed that they used a white Maruti Suzuki Brezza without a number plate to avoid detection during the crimes. Police also recovered five mobile phones and the vehicle used in the offence.(With agency inputs)
