Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 30: A 19-year marriage has taken a shocking turn after Delhi Police arrested a businessman’s wife for allegedly plotting an extortion attempt against her husband with the help of a US-based gangster linked to the Jitender Gogi gang.
The Special Cell of Delhi Police on Monday arrested Sapna Jain, accusing her of conspiring to extort Rs 50 lakh from her husband, who runs a wholesale business in East Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar.
Police also arrested her alleged accomplice Rajat (29), a resident of Sonipat, Haryana, and a friend of Sapna’s elder sister, in connection with the case.
According to police, the case came to light after the businessman began receiving threatening calls and messages from an international number on June 14. The caller allegedly claimed to be a member of the Gogi gang and demanded Rs 50 lakh, threatening to kill him and his family if the money was not paid.
The Jitender Gogi gang, which has also been linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi group, gained notoriety for extortion and gang-related violence. Its leader Jitender Mann alias Gogi was killed inside Rohini Court in 2021 by members of a rival gang. Police said the gang continues to operate through associates based abroad and in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
To make the threats appear genuine, the extortionists allegedly sent photographs and exact locations of the businessman’s residence and workplace.
An FIR was registered at Laxmi Nagar police station on June 18, following which the investigation was transferred to the New Delhi Range of the Special Cell.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Praveen Kumar Tripathi said a team led by Inspectors Sanjay Kumar Gupta and Pankaj Chauhan, under the supervision of ACP Vivek Tyagi, used technical surveillance and intelligence inputs to track the alleged extortion network.
Police said the investigation led them to Rajat, who allegedly had links with members of the Gogi gang, including jailed gangster Rohit Moi, and another associate based in the US.
Rajat was arrested on June 25. Police claimed that analysis of his mobile phone revealed incriminating chats showing his alleged coordination with the overseas extortionist and regular communication with Sapna and her sister.
Police said the investigation revealed a domestic dispute behind the alleged conspiracy. Sapna and the businessman got married in 2007 and have two teenage children, but their relationship had reportedly deteriorated due to long-standing family issues.
According to police, Sapna allegedly believed that her mother-in-law always supported her husband during family disagreements.
Investigators claimed that Sapna allegedly involved Rajat to first extort money from her husband. Police further alleged that the plan later involved harming her mother-in-law and assaulting the businessman.
Sapna allegedly provided Rajat with details about her husband’s daily movements to assist the conspiracy, police said.
The Special Cell said mobile phones containing chats between Sapna and Rajat have been recovered, and the digital evidence is expected to play an important role in the investigation.
Police also said Rajat had allegedly come in contact around three years ago with Karmveer Pehalwan alias Meeta, who is based in the US and is suspected of facilitating the extortion calls.
Rajat has previous cases registered against him, including theft and two cases under the Arms Act in Sonipat. Police said he became acquainted with Sapna’s elder sister, who lives in Sonipat, a few years ago.
Authorities are now working to identify and arrest other suspected conspirators, including the overseas-based accused involved in the alleged extortion operation.