SOUKIN Vs. NCT STATE NEW DELHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present applications are filed under Sec. 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 ('CrPC') seeking grant of prearrest bail in FIR No. 368/2022 dtd. 8/12/2022 registered at Police Station Special Cell, Delhi for offences punishable under Ss. 419/420/388/170 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('IPC').

(2.) The FIR in the present case was registered at the instance of the complainant namely, Dewan Singh Malik who alleged that on 10/10/2022, he received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown lady, who insisted for private video call and later recorded the video call. Thereafter, the complainant received several calls from different mobile numbers who introduced themselves as police officers/Youtube employees and extorted a total amount of 16 Lakhs on the pretext of removing the video from Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and by threatening him of false accusation in the murder case of the lady in the video and on the pretext of settling the matter with her family.

(3.) During investigation, on analysis of CDRs of the alleged numbers, it was found that the mobile numbers of the alleged callers were located at Sikri, Bharatpur, Rajasthan at the time of the alleged incident and the alleged persons are part of organized group operating from there. Further, three accused persons namely, Shabbir, Sahjad and Rafeek were arrested on 22/12/2022.