After crackdown on traditional sources of income, gangsters turn to extortion

With traditional sources of revenue such as smuggling of firearms and drugs disrupted by aggressive policing, gangsters are increasingly relying on extortion to keep their operations alive.

The police said the shift had been driven by changing underworld dynamics and reduced opportunities in other illegal trades.

On the night of September 18, two men pasted a threatening note on a garments shop in Jafrabad, Northeast Delhi, demanding Rs 1 crore from the owner.

The note, captured on CCTV, claimed to be from gangster Vicky Pehelwan, who is lodged in Mandoli Jail. The note read: “I need Rs 1 crore, or else I’ll get you killed.”

Earlier this month, three members of the Kala Jathedi gang were arrested after they allegedly threatened a restaurant owner in Janakpuri, West Delhi, demanding money.

In another incident, a Haryana-based gang linked to Gurjant Singh, alias Junta, was caught after demanding Rs 5 crore from a businessman in Anand Vihar. To intensify the threat, the gang even opened fire outside the victim’s house.

The police said regular crackdowns had weakened the gangs’ earlier income sources, forcing them to target anyone they believe could pay.

“Earlier, only a few gangs operated in Delhi, but now around 10 major groups are active. Competition among them has led to a rise in extortion, as it is seen as easy money,” a Special Cell officer said.

He explained that gangs use simple calculations to survive. “If even two out of 10 people pay up after receiving a threat, the gang can continue to operate,” he said.

While extortion is not new to Delhi, its scale has grown in recent years. The police attribute this to reduced opportunities in smuggling and trafficking, which have been curbed by intensified enforcement. Unlike those trades, extortion is considered “low risk and high return,” with many threats made over phones or from inside jails using smuggled devices.

The police, however, insist they are cracking down hard. Between August 22 and September 25, the Delhi Police have arrested 50 gang members across the city.