Delhi Police Cracks Down on Sticker Extortion Syndicate: Two More Arrests Made
In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police has apprehended two additional suspects connected to a sophisticated sticker extortion racket that targeted traffic police personnel and government officials in the national capital. This latest development brings the total number of arrests in this case to 10 individuals, as authorities continue to dismantle the criminal network.
Modus Operandi: Video Manipulation and Blackmail
According to police officials, the arrested duo played distinct roles within the extortion scheme. One of the accused was allegedly responsible for collecting extortion money, while the other specialized in recording and manipulating videos that were subsequently used to blackmail officials. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjeev Yadav provided crucial insights into the operation, stating that the suspects were trained to create these videos specifically for extortion purposes after manipulating traffic police personnel and other officials.
Three Gangs Busted in Coordinated Police Operation
The Delhi Police has successfully busted three interconnected gangs that collectively operated this alleged syndicate over the past month. These criminal groups were found to be violating the city's pollution-control and traffic regulations through their organized activities. All three gang leaders—Raju Meena, Jeeshan Ali, and Rinku Rana—have been taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation.
The gangs reportedly assured transporters that vehicles bearing their specially sold stickers would not receive any traffic challans. This promise created a lucrative illegal business model that exploited both transport operators and government officials.
Latest Arrests and Gang Affiliations
Sanjay Gupta, one of the two recently arrested suspects, was identified as a member of the Raju Meena Gang. He was apprehended on January 20, 2026, and represents the third arrest from this particular criminal group. DCP Yadav confirmed that Gupta received specific training for preparing extortion videos after manipulating traffic police personnel and officials.
The other arrested individual, Amir Chaudhary, worked for the Jeeshan Ali gang. Police caught him red-handed on January 17 while he was actively blackmailing a Delhi Traffic police officer. Chaudhary, who works as a cab driver professionally, served as a key associate of gang leader Jeeshan Ali.
Sophisticated Extortion Mechanism Revealed
A police officer familiar with the investigation details explained the racket's operational methodology. The gangs would inform traffic personnel in their designated areas about specific sticker colors that identified vehicles requiring clearance. In exchange for regular commissions, these officers would allegedly allow the marked vehicles to pass without inspection.
When some officers refused to cooperate, the gangs instructed drivers to offer bribes while secretly recording the interactions. Once the criminals realized they could effectively threaten traffic police with these recordings, they stopped paying commissions and shifted exclusively to blackmail tactics to maintain their syndicate.
Challan Manipulation and Geographic Operations
The officer further revealed that if a traffic officer didn't comply with their demands, the gangs would promise to pay the challans afterward. They would then collect these challans—sometimes valued at Rs 30,000 or more each—from transporters, use their connections with traffic police officers, and clear them for merely Rs 100 to Rs 200 at Lok Adalats.
The syndicate operated across different regions of Delhi with clear territorial divisions:
- Raju Meena handled drivers in the Trans-Yamuna region
- Jeeshan Ali controlled operations in West Delhi
- Rinku Rana managed activities in Outer Delhi
Long-standing Criminal Enterprise
Investigations suggest this criminal syndicate had been operating for approximately 15 years, initially established after Raju Meena allegedly promised monthly bribes to certain traffic police officers. The network expanded systematically, exploiting both transporters and government officials through organized extortion.
Police have also arrested three associates of Jeeshan Ali—Chandan Kumar Chaudhary, Dilip Kumar, and Dina Nath Chaudhary—who were responsible for field operations and sticker distribution within their gang's territory.
Technological Facilitation of Illegal Activities
The third gang's operations came to light with the arrest of main handler Rinku Rana (38) and Sonu Sharma (33) from Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. Sharma, according to police sources, operated a WhatsApp group that provided real-time alerts to drivers about potential traffic routes and checkpoints where regulations could be bypassed, using tips received from within the system.
This case highlights the sophisticated methods employed by criminal elements to subvert traffic regulations and exploit both officials and citizens through systematic blackmail and corruption networks.
