With the arrest of two people, including a woman, the Delhi Police on Friday claimed to have busted an extortion racket running under the garb of providing “massage service”. The accused used to provide massage service at the place chosen by the customers. The accused then tried to extort money in the name of lodging a complaint of molestation and sexual assault.

“The accused have been identified as Sahdab Gowhar (25) and one woman Sangeeta (name changed). We have filed a First Information Report (FIR) in which the complainant said that while surfing the internet, he came across a website link providing “massage” at the place of choice following which the complainant was taken for massage to an OYO room located in Sector-1, Vaishali, Ghaziabad where after massaging the victim for 15-20 minutes, two women came entered the hotel room.

They took away complainant’s clothes and Shadab started abusing and hitting him,” said Dr G Ram Gopal Naik, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Crime Branch.

“The accused demanded Rs 10 lakh from the victim and threatened to show his nude videos and photos to his family if he refused to pay money. Having left with no choice, the complainant gave Rs three lakh in cash on the spot.

Before leaving the hotel room, the complainant was forced to sign four cheques amounting to Rs 4.5 lakh in the name of Shadab Gowhar and in the name of woman accomplice.

The accused also asked the complainant to arrange the rest of  money soon,” said the DCP.

“The victim was again asked by the accused to meet him at Select City Mall, Saket with Rs 2 lakhs. A crime branch team which lay in wait, arrested the accused the accused,” said the DCP.

“During interrogation the accused disclosed that they used to employ a typical modus operandi of taking the client to their place and once the client undressed for the massage, the gang members remained outside of  the room and they then barged into the room by knocking the door.

Once inside they, they used to pretend that they prepared his nude video and  then threatened to file  a case of rape. Once the client was pressurised and terrorized by this act, they used to demand huge money for not showing their videos and photos to their family,” said the DCP.

“Apart from the above, the accused have also disclosed several other incidents of extortion in Delhi at various places which are to be identified. Accused Rita (name Changed) is on the run. Further investigation is going on,” said the DCP.