The Delhi Police arrested three alleged shooters of the Harry Boxer gang and claimed to have foiled a major conspiracy involving extortion and planned killing of businessmen across Delhi-NCR.
The accused were allegedly conducting reconnaissance of potential targets, issuing extortion threats through foreign numbers and waiting for instructions from gang handlers before executing the attacks.
According to Rohini district police, the operation stemmed from a complaint lodged on March 8 by a businessman in North Rohini, who alleged that he had received repeated WhatsApp calls and messages from foreign numbers demanding Rs 1 crore in extortion. The caller identified himself as Randeep Malik, claimed links with the Harry Boxer gang and threatened to kill the businessman, if the demand was not met.
The police said the threats escalated on July 4 when the complainant allegedly received photographs and videos of his residence on WhatsApp. The caller, introducing himself as Harry Boxer, claimed that reconnaissance of the house had already been completed and threatened to kill either the businessman or a member of his family, if the extortion demand was not fulfilled.
During investigation, the police found that the gang was allegedly targeting several businessmen, including jewellers in Karol Bagh, across Delhi-NCR by conducting surveillance of their homes and businesses before planning targeted killings.
A joint team of the Special Staff and the North Rohini police launched a technical and field investigation involving CCTV analysis, human intelligence, digital forensics and surveillance. The probe led to the arrest of Shiv Govind from Srinivaspuri.
The police said photographs and videos of the complainant's residence, along with images of jewellery establishments in Karol Bagh, were recovered from his mobile phone. Investigators alleged that the material had been shared with gang handlers through encrypted messaging application “Signal”.
Based on his interrogation, the police arrested Abhinav, alias Akash Singh, and Vivek. The accused had allegedly travelled from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh and stayed at various hotels in Delhi to conceal their movements while preparing to execute the planned crimes.
The police recovered three sophisticated illegal pistols, including a 9 mm pistol and a Beretta pistol, 26 live cartridges and a motorcycle. The weapons had allegedly been buried underground near the Sector 11/25 drain in Rohini to avoid detection.
During interrogation, the police claimed that Abhinav had previously been arrested in connection with the 2024 murder of gym owner Nadir Shah in Greater Kailash-I and was released from jail in May this year.
Investigators alleged that after his release, he re-established contact with senior members of the Harry Boxer gang through encrypted communication platforms, recruited shooters and assigned reconnaissance tasks to his associates.
The police further alleged that the illegal firearms were supplied by an associate identified as Anil Pandit, who is believed to be based in the United States. The gang allegedly used foreign-based operatives and encrypted communication platforms to coordinate extortion, surveillance and planned killings.
The accused have been identified as Shiv Govind (19), a resident of Tughlakabad; Abhinav, alias Akash Singh (23), and Vivek (22), both from Azamgarh.
The police said further investigation was on to trace other gang members, overseas handlers, financiers and weapon suppliers, as well as identify other businessmen who might have been surveyed as potential targets.