New Delhi

A fake loan recovery gang using technology to extort money from motorists was busted in East Delhi.

The Delhi Police on Sunday arrested four members of a gang posing as loan recovery agents and running a high-tech roadside extortion racket. The accused allegedly used mobile applications to track vehicles with pending EMIs and targeted owners on busy roads.

According to officials, the gang would identify vehicles with unpaid loans and intercept them while pretending to be bank recovery officials. They would then threaten and force victims to pay money.

The case came to light after a complaint by a man named Keshav Kumar. He said he was stopped near ITO on Vikas Marg on March 26 by people in a white car. The accused allegedly forced him into their vehicle, assaulted him, and threatened him before taking Rs 18,000 through an online transfer.

Following the complaint, a case was registered at Shakarpur police station on March 27. A special team was formed to investigate the matter. With the help of technical surveillance and local intelligence, police traced the suspects.

Investigators used mobile data and location tracking to identify the accused, who were found to be from Baghpat. Police later arrested four individuals — Prince (22), Aakash alias Akku (25), Shivam (23), and Teetu alias Tittu (22).

During interrogation, the accused confessed to posing as recovery agents and using digital tools to target victims. They used a car without number plates to intimidate people, assaulting and confining them until money was transferred online. Police seized phones and a vehicle, and are tracing more victims and another accomplice.