Daijiworld Media Network - Meerut
Meerut, Aug 2: A gang accused of posing as police personnel, senior police officers and journalists to run a honeytrap-based extortion racket has been busted in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, police said on Saturday.
Two members of the five-member gang have been arrested, while a search is underway to nab the remaining accused.
The racket came to light after a resident, Neeraj Pal, lodged a complaint alleging that he was lured into a honeytrap through a fake female profile on social media and later extorted by the gang.
According to police, the accused — identified as Shashank Sharma, Rahul Pal and Akash — allegedly created a fake woman's profile on Instagram and befriended Neeraj. After gaining his trust and exchanging photographs, they persuaded him to meet the woman in person.
When Neeraj reached the designated location, two men confronted him instead. They allegedly posed as police personnel and journalists, threatened him with legal action and demanded Rs 2 lakh to settle the matter. The accused also forced him to transfer Rs 10,000 through Google Pay.
Police said the gang recorded videos of the victim and allegedly used deepfake technology to further blackmail him.
Following the complaint, a special investigation team formed on the directions of the Senior Superintendent of Police arrested Rahul Pal and Akash. Efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused.
During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted to targeting victims through fake female profiles on Instagram before summoning them to meetings and extorting money by impersonating police officials and journalists.
Police seized several items allegedly used to lend credibility to the racket, including a Maruti Alto car without a registration plate, a separate number plate, mobile phones, a laptop, a tablet, walkie-talkies, a baton, a beat book, official-looking seals, nameplates, complaint forms, files and other documents.
Authorities believe the equipment was used to convince victims that they were dealing with genuine law enforcement officials.
Responding to social media claims that the gang operated a fake police outpost, senior police officer Vinayak Gopal Bhonsle clarified that no such outpost existed.
"There was no fake police chowki. It was an office with 'Karyalaya' written outside it. Claims circulating on social media that a fake police outpost was being run are incorrect," he said.
Bhonsle said an FIR was registered immediately after Neeraj Pal reported the forced transfer of Rs 10,000.
"The accused created fake female identities to honeytrap people. Neeraj was called to their office, where he realised there was no woman. They recorded videos to blackmail him using fabricated allegations and demanded Rs 2 lakh. Two accused have been arrested, while two others remain absconding. They will be arrested soon," he added.
Police said investigations are continuing to identify other possible victims and ascertain whether the gang carried out similar extortion cases elsewhere in the region.