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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Extortionist used al-Qaeda name to threaten jewellers |
| 2004-05-18 |
| A man who allegedly issued extortion threats in the name of Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda to leading jewellers and businessmen in Delhi was arrested on Sunday from a cyber cafe in Paharganj. Rakesh Kumar Kashyap of Ambala allegedly sent e-mails demanding cash from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore. Police said they have recovered e-mail IDs of various industrialists and jewellers from his possession. A computer, CPU, and floppy allegedly containing the contents of the letter he sent have also been seized. A jeweller, who have offices in Delhi and Jaipur, complained to the police a few days back that he has been receiving threatening e-mails written by one Mohammed Hussein Al-Almadi of the Al Qaeda. The sender demanded Rs 25 lakh and increased the demand to Rs 50 lakh. An industrialist and another prominent South Delhi jeweller also lodged similar complaints about receiving extortion e-mails and letters from the Al Qaeda demanding Rs 1 crore. Another case was also lodged at the Greater Kailash police station. In all, the accused had allegedly sent threatening mails to five persons. During interrogation Kashyap confessed that he had used the name Al Qaeda to threaten businessmen and jewellers. The accused told police that he use to come to Delhi to send e-mails and letters. Police said Kashyap had borrowed Rs 11.25 lakh from a relative in Ambala for opening up a petrol pump and a travel agency. When he could not return the money, he thought of this gameplan. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |