New Delhi: The Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Friday said it has busted a gang running an extortion racket under the garb of providing 'massage service' at places of choice of their customers.
Cops arrested a man Shadab Gowhar and a woman in the case near Saket on Thursday, while another accused is still absconding.
Explaining the modus operandi, cops said the gang used to meet their clients at an assigned place. As the client would be undressed to get a 'man-to-man' massage, the accused would wait outside the room. A few minutes later, they would barge into the room and threaten the client by claiming they have shot nude videos and pictures of his and threaten to frame him in a rape case.
Out of fear, the client would concede to their demands and pay them a large sum in exchange of not leaking the video or photos to his family.
Police said that on Wednesday, an extortion complaint of Rs three lakh was received by the Crime Branch.
The complainant said that earlier in the month, he came across a website link providing 'massage' at the place of choice.
He selected a man's profile for the services and called at the given mobile number. He and the accused Gowhar, who posed as one Armaan Sharma, met at a coffee shop in V3S Mall at Preet Vihar and the complainant agreed to hire Gowhar.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dr G Ramgopal Naik said that on Tuesday, Gowhar met the complainant at an OYO Rooms hotel for the massage.
Gowhar began massaging him, and after 15-20 minutes, there was knock at the door.
Gowhar immediately opened the door and two women barged in, who grabbed the client's clothes, and the three started abusing and hitting the client.
"Gowhar took away the man's purse and mobile phone, and kept hitting and abusing him with a rod. He then threatened him to pay a ransom of Rs 10 lakh. When the complainant asked him to call the police, one woman threatened that she will undress, run to the reception and frame him for rape," said the DCP. Though the victim paid some money, he later filed a complaint with the cops.