New Delhi: Police have arrested five people in an extortion case, including the alleged shooter, after he broke into a private builder’s office in central Delhi’s Paharganj area.On June 29, an armed man allegedly entered the office in Arya Nagar, demanded Rs 30 lakh, including an immediate payment of Rs 5 lakh, and threatened that his accomplices were waiting nearby. When the builder refused to pay, the accused opened fire and fled. A case was registered at Nabi Karim police station.Those held are Pawan Kumar alias Pawan Pehelwan, Shakti Singh, Vishal Bhati alias Bhanja, Pawan Kumar alias Pawan Chetli and Rajesh Sachdeva alias Sonu Mota.The attack was part of a carefully planned interstate criminal conspiracy, police said. The prime accused, Pehelwan, who claimed to be a financier, allegedly orchestrated the firing to establish himself as an extortionist by creating fear among builders and businessmen in the area.Probe revealed that local builder and hotelier Chetli and his accomplice Sachdeva allegedly facilitated the conspiracy by arranging accommodation and meeting places for the gang and sharing information about the complainant and his family. Chetli also intended to use the incident to settle business rivalries and strengthen his influence among local builders, police said.The first breakthrough came with the arrest of Bhati, whose interrogation helped police identify the remaining conspirators, including Singh, who had fled to Kolkata after the incident. He was tracked down and brought to Delhi on transit remand.Pehelwan was later apprehended near IP Estate after opening fire at the police team that intended to arrest him. Police retaliated, injuring him in both legs before taking him into custody. A pistol, live cartridges, spent cartridge cases and a stolen motorcycle were siezed. A separate FIR has been registered in connection with the attack on the police party.Pawan had also posted videos on Instagram allegedly displaying the weapon used in the crime, glorifying the firing incident and threatening the complainant while challenging police to arrest him, police said.
