Phone racket: Gangster Act pressed on accused

LUCKNOW: Police on Tuesday initiated proceedings under Gangster's Act against members of the NGO Sahil Foundation arrested in September on charges of operating a racket spoofing telephone numbers of known political, social and film personalities.
The kingpin of the eight-member gang Mohammad Nisar alias Sahil was held for making misleading calls to senior administrative and police officials in the state.He had been running an NGO Sahil Foundation from its BN road, Lalbagh office. Sahil had roped in several film stars for events and also got on board many IAS, IPS and senior officials as honorary members. Sahil used a blue-beaconed ambassador car with UP-32 BG series number and presented himself or any member of his gang as an IAS officer to potential victims. The meetings were organised at places such as VIP guest houses, restaurants in prominent hotels or within the ambassador car parked around Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhavan, Bapu Bhavan or Jawahar Bhavan.
Two police constables were also involved in the racket and were arrested. Hazratganj police had recovered four motor vehicles equipped with fake secretariat passes and Rs 6,43,000 from them. The victims targeted by the gang coughed up crores or rupees in the name of facilitation fee. The arrested gang members were head constable Doodhnath, constable Ram Sajan, Jummeruddin alias Baba, Jafaruddin alias Jafar, Pradeep Shukla, Mohammad Umar alias Murfy and Asad Ali Jafry.
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Lucknow police were getting inputs about the gang for the past few months but it was finally a deal gone sour that landed the gang in trouble. Sahil in the meantime was only getting stronger by making connections with powerful people. Special task force of UP was also tipped about the gang and began chasing it. Sahil's movements were followed for close to four months before he finally landed behind bars.
Dinesh Yadav, circle officer of Hazratganj revealed details of a case. Saadatganj resident Nand Prakash Mishra was targeted by the gang last month. Mishra had a piece of land in Talkatora but it was acquired by Awas Vikas Parishad long time ago. One of his acquaintances introduced him to Sahil, who started throwing up names and made a few calls to required officials in the first meeting itself. Mishra was asked to pay up Rs 70 lakh to bag a no-objection-certificate from the housing body. "Obviously, the deal did not go through and Mishra lodged a complaint," said Yadav.