Muktsar police bust honey trap racket; six held, two absconding

The Muktsar district police today claimed to have busted a honey trap extortion racket by arresting six persons, including two women. However, two of their associates, including a woman, are still at large.

The police stated that the gang had been blackmailing people for a long time. “They contacted victims directly or over the phone, trapped them, recorded videos, and then demanded money. This gang has been active for quite some time,” said DSP (Investigation) Ramanpreet Singh Gill.

He added that a case under Sections 308(2) and 61(2) of the BNS was registered in this regard on Friday. “One Gurpreet Singh had lodged a complaint with us, following which action was taken against the gang. The investigation is presently underway. It is possible that some victims have not come forward out of fear for their reputation,” said the DSP.

Those arrested are Harjinder Singh alias Arshdeep, a resident of Chak Giljewala village; Jasmail Singh of Sukhna Ablu village; Bhola Singh of Assa Buttar village; Gora Singh of Chak Bir Sarkar village; Sandeep Kaur of Doda village; and Manjeet Kaur of Assa Buttar village. Some of them have a previous criminal record.

Those still on the run have been identified as Buta Singh of Buttar village and Nempal alias Nimmo of Assa Buttar village.

This case has also raised fresh concerns over the growing incidents of extortion and honey trap crimes.

In February last year, 77-year-old Narottam Singh alias Nims Dhillon — a businessman and nephew of former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal — was found dead with injury marks at his villa in Pilerne-Marra village in North Goa.

Following the arrest of three persons, including a woman, Goa police had claimed that it was a honey trap case that went awry. The accused allegedly murdered Dhillon and fled with his car and valuables worth nearly Rs 47 lakh.

Punjab