DB Marg police bust gang of informers for extortion

The DB Marg police recently busted a gang of police informers and arrested five for allegedly extorting money from brothel owners, commercial sex workers (CSWs), builders and shopkeepers in Grant Road area. The accused would threaten the victims that if they didn't pay up, they would get their establishments raided by the police. The gang had earlier got a few raids conducted in the area, which had frightened the victims.

The arrested have been identified as Sudai Yadav (30), Prasadi Mandal (32), Gyaneshwar Naik (24), Samir Purkait (43) and Sunil Sonvane (43).

The police had frequently been receiving complaints against the accused from the brothel workers. An officer said, "The accused used to extort money by posing as journalists... they used to create fake ID cards and publish fake news on bogus newspapers to blackmail the victims."

"The accused have extorted lakhs from the CSWs, shopkeepers and builders. While Yadav, Mandal and Naik are out on bail, the other two are in judicial custody. After interrogation, we have come across names of several more people who we suspect to be involved. Our priority is to find the main accused, Satish Salvi, and the four absconding ones," he added.

The arrested have been charged with extortion, putting a person in fear and acts done by several person with a common intention under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.