AAP shielding goons running extortion racket with Dubai numbers, alleges Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma
Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma accuses AAP of running an extortion racket using Dubai numbers and shielding criminals involved in assaults.
In a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma has accused the ruling party of shielding criminals and operating a sophisticated extortion racket across the national capital. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Verma alleged that the extortionists involved in these illegal activities are using international phone numbers to evade detection.
Allegations of Extortion and International Connections
Verma claimed that the criminals operating under the protection of AAP leaders do not use local Delhi mobile numbers. Instead, they reportedly utilize Dubai numbers to ensure their communications remain untraceable and beyond the reach of local surveillance. He suggested that this systematic extortion is being carried out by individuals acting under the orders of various AAP MLAs.
The Minister highlighted a recent incident involving an individual arrested by the Delhi Police three months ago. According to Verma, this person had previously assaulted an MCD employee and a contractor's worker, leaving one of them in a critical state. Verma expressed outrage that the AAP was now intervening to protect such individuals.
Systematic Demands and Targeted Harassment
The Minister provided specific details regarding recent complaints filed by government officials and contractors:
- Extortion Demands: PWD engineers and local contractors have filed formal police complaints alleging that systematic demands for money have been made.
- Specific Amount: It was alleged that a sum of fifty lakh rupees was demanded from these officials over a period of fifteen to twenty days.
- Retaliatory Actions: Verma claimed that when these illegal demands were not met, AAP leader Jarnail Singh took aggressive action.
History of Violence and Intimidation
Verma accused the AAP of using violence and intimidation as recurring tactics since the party first assumed power in 2015. He specifically targeted AAP leader Jarnail Singh, citing a past FIR from 2015 involving the assault of an MCD engineer as evidence of a long-standing pattern of misconduct.
Reflecting on a recent confrontation during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar, Verma detailed a chaotic scene involving opposition leaders and their supporters:
- The opposition MLA reportedly called the government minister three times and waited for 45 minutes.
- Despite the minister being present to inspect work with his engineers, the MLA arrived accompanied by a group of individuals.
- Verma alleged that these individuals, some of whom have existing criminal records and prior arrests, engaged in abuse and misbehavior.
The controversy has intensified following the circulation of a video by AAP leaders regarding the Tilak Nagar incident, which has led to widespread protests demanding immediate legal intervention.