SIT issues notices to IAS couple in extortion scam

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, July 16

A Special Investigation Team set up to probe the inter-district racket of extorting money from the owners and operators of overloaded vehicles is investigating the role of an IAS couple, who were posted in Charkhi Dadri district when the racket was unearthed.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Sampla) Narender Kadian, who is a member of the SIT, stated that three notices had been issued to former Charkhi Dadri Deputy Commissioner Ajay Tomar and his wife and former Charkhi Dadri ADC-cum-Regional Transport Authority secretary Sangeeta to join the investigation.

“The mobile phones of the said officers have been sent for laboratory examination to dig out the details of the calls and communications involving the persons who have been arrested in connection with the case,” Kadian said while talking to The Tribune today.

The racket, which was being operated in connivance with certain officials of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), was unearthed by a special team of the Rohtak police in May this year. Five persons, including two RTA officials, a personal assistant of the then deputy commissioner of Charkhi Dadri and two middlemen, have been arrested in this connection so far.

The Rohtak police received inputs that certain agents and middlemen were extorting money from the owners and operators of overloaded vehicles carrying building material by threatening them with challaning their vehicles in connivance with RTA officials.

“After extorting the money, the overloaded vehicles were allowed to pass through Dadri, Narnaul, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Bhiwani and Sonipat districts without getting challaned,” said Kadian.

Acting on a tip-off, a special team comprising officials of the CIA wing and Cyber Cell officials arrested middlemen Ravinder, alias Kala, of Bahadurgarh and Surender Rathi of Rohtak, who were extorting money from vehicle operators. Two cars were seized from their possession.

On the basis of information provided by them, RTA officials Manish Madan and Amit and the then Charkhi Dadri DC’s personal assistant Suresh were also arrested. An amount of Rs 63.79 lakh was recovered from the possession of the arrested persons.

Tomar and his wife Sangeeta were transferred from Charkhi Dadri and attached to the state headquarters after the matter came to light and a case was registered. Tomar could not be contacted for comments as his mobile phone was switched off.

‘Overloaded vehicles targeted’

• An inter-district racket of extorting money from the owners and operators of overloaded vehicles was unearthed by the Rohtak police in May this year. 
• The SIT is investigating the role of former Charkhi Dadri Deputy Commissioner Ajay Tomar and his wife and former Charkhi Dadri ADC-cum-Regional Transport Authority secretary Sangeeta, who were posted in the district when the racket was unearthed.
• Five persons — two Regional Transport Authority officials, a personal assistant of the then Deputy Commissioner of Charkhi Dadri and two middlemen — have been arrested in this connection so far.