MP receives extortion calls; 2 held

Amritsar, April 17

The police have arrested two persons who had been making extortion calls to Congress MP Gurjit Aujla. When the accused kept calling repeatedly for the last three days demanding Rs 35 lakh, his staff lodged a police complaint.

A trap was laid and the accused, Vijay Sharma of Nehru Colony and his accomplice Deepak Kumar, were nabbed by the police. They said they were making the calls through a mobile phone that they had snatched from a gardener.

They had initially called for ransom a few days ago. The MP’s personal assistant, Manpreet, who had his mobile phone, did not take it seriously but when the calls were made repeatedly, he informed the police. “I was informed much later when the caller did not desist. Taking the matter seriously, we informed the police who acted promptly and arrested them,” said Aujla.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations) Mukhwinder Singh said Vijay was associated with another notorious person Gaurav Bawa who used to blackmail people by showing his pictures with political leaders. He was arrested by the Rajasthan Police some months back. — TNS