Delhi Police Cyber Cell Officer Arrested for Kidnapping and Extortion
A Delhi Police cyber cell officer was arrested for orchestrating the kidnapping of a street vendor near the Red Fort, demanding a ransom to pay off heavy gambling debts.
A Delhi Police cyber cell officer has been arrested for allegedly masterminding the kidnapping of a street vendor near the historic Red Fort area in India's capital, demanding a hefty ransom for his release.
The officer, identified as Moin Ali, was taken into custody alongside an accomplice following a carefully planned police stakeout near the New Delhi railway station. According to reports from News18 and the Hindustan Times, Ali has been suspended from active duty and remanded in judicial custody as investigators search for additional suspects.
The Abduction and Ransom Demands
The victim, a street vendor named Ravi Dubey, was allegedly snatched during the early morning hours near the Red Fort after being lured away from a food stall operated by his friend, Arjun Yadav. Police stated that the kidnappers bundled Dubey into a vehicle, drove him to multiple locations, and began demanding cash in exchange for his safe return.
Initial demands reached 150,000 rupees, approximately 1,800 US dollars. The abductors frequently changed drop-off instructions, routing communications through Dubey's WhatsApp account after destroying his physical SIM card.
Police Entrapment and Arrest
Arjun Yadav immediately alerted local authorities and cooperated with law enforcement while negotiating with the kidnappers. The ransom amount was eventually negotiated down to 60,000 rupees. A final meet-up was arranged near the New Delhi railway station, where Ali and another suspect named Akhtar arrived to collect the payment.
"The suspects were summoned near the New Delhi railway station to collect the money. When Ali and his associates arrived, we apprehended two of them and secured the release of the victim," a senior police officer stated.
Financial Motive and Investigation
Investigators revealed that the plot was hatched after Akhtar, who bore a previous grudge against Dubey, approached Ali. Facing severe financial distress due to heavy sports betting debts amounting to roughly two million rupees, the newly recruited cyber officer allegedly agreed to leverage his position for the criminal scheme.
Authorities confirm that the Kotwali police station handled the arrest, and inquiries continue to trace remaining accomplices involved in the brazen extortion plot.
