Meerut: Meerut Police have arrested another accused in a case involving alleged honey-trap and extortion of a dairy operator through social media. According to the police, Shivam alias Shiva alias Krishna, a resident of Jeevanpuri, was arrested after his alleged role emerged during the investigation. He is accused of posing as a police constable during the incident. With his arrest, four accused have now been arrested in the case. Police are investigating the links between the accused, the fake social media accounts and the alleged extortion operation.
According to the police, the accused allegedly used social media to establish contact with the dairy operator and subsequently attempted to intimidate him by involving him in a purported case related to communication with a woman. The accused allegedly posed as police officers and threatened the victim with police action and even an encounter to pressure him into paying money.
Contact allegedly established through a fake Instagram identity
During questioning, Shivam allegedly told police that Rahul Pal had created a fake social media account using the name ‘Shashank’. The account was allegedly used to establish contact with the dairy operator, Shashank Sharma. According to the police, Rahul communicated with the victim through Instagram and other social media platforms and allegedly used different identities to intimidate him.
Shivam allegedly told investigators that Rahul sometimes introduced himself as a CO and at other times as a police station in-charge while speaking to the victim. He allegedly tried to convince the victim that a serious complaint had been filed against him and that police action could follow. Police are independently verifying these claims through digital and other evidence.
Shivam also allegedly told police that four people were involved in the incident. However, investigators have not treated his statement as conclusive. They are examining social media accounts, mobile phones, call records, chats and financial transactions to establish the exact role of each accused.
Victim allegedly taken away in a car and held captive
According to the police, the accused called the dairy operator to a location on a road in front of a shopping mall. After he arrived, they allegedly forced him into a car and took him to an office. The victim’s eyes were allegedly covered with a cloth during the journey.
At the office, the accused allegedly introduced themselves as police officers and assaulted the victim. They allegedly threatened him with an encounter and attempted to frighten him by accusing him of sexual exploitation. The accused then allegedly demanded money in exchange for not taking action on the purported complaint against him.
Police said the accused allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh from the victim. Under pressure, ₹10,000 was allegedly collected through an online e-wallet. The victim subsequently approached the police, following which an investigation was initiated.
Three accused already sent to jail
During the investigation, police first arrested Vishal, a resident of Teethra village. Subsequently, on August 1, police raided an office in the Mohkampur area of T.P. Nagar. Rahul Pal, a resident of Rithani village, and Akash, a resident of Puththa village, were arrested during the operation. Both were subsequently produced before a court and sent to jail.
Following Shivam’s arrest, investigators are now attempting to establish the links among the accused. Police are examining who created the fake social media accounts, how the victim’s personal information allegedly reached the accused and where the money collected through the alleged extortion was transferred.
Police examining whether others were targeted
Investigators are also trying to determine whether the accused had targeted other people using a similar method. The probe is examining the alleged use of social media to establish contact, create false identities and subsequently pose as police officers to threaten victims.
Digital evidence is expected to play an important role in the investigation. Police are examining mobile phones, social media accounts, chats, call records and payment details to verify the sequence of events and establish the alleged roles of the accused.
According to the police, Shivam’s name emerged during the investigation and led to his arrest. If the probe establishes the involvement of any other person, action will be taken against them as per law. The investigation into the alleged honey-trap and extortion network is currently continuing.
