Arjun Gang Member Held in Extortion Case

Hyderabad: Special teams probing Arjun’s gang, which targeted and extorted wealthy women, have arrested another accused, Jitender Reddy, in the case. Jitender Reddy, acting on the instructions of kingpin Chandrashekar Azad alias Arjun, trapped and extorted Rs 2 lakh from a minor girl residing in the Cyberabad police commissionerate limits, police said.

So far, police have arrested 10 members of Arjun’s gang, including Saraswathi, Arjun’s mother Meena Kumari, her paramours Taraka Prashanth and Vinil Chaudhary, Arjun’s friend Jitender of Jagadgirigutta, N. Hemanth of Kesamudram, and Swathi. Over a dozen others have been questioned. Other conspirators, including Meena Kumari’s son Ritesh, have reportedly been taken into custody from Bangalore, while Sreejith and two others remain at large.

Jitender Reddy, a resident of Khairatabad, has been booked under the Pocso Act. Police have recorded the victim’s statement. “The case is under investigation and we will be seeking police custody of the arrested during further probe,” a police officer disclosed.

IT and FSL teams have seized Jitender’s mobile phone and are retrieving deleted data. It is reported that he extorted other victims on the instructions of Arjun’s gang.

“Stern action will be taken against the gang which has been trapping minor girls and women, blackmailing them by recording videos and extorting money. We appeal to victims to fearlessly come forward and file a complaint. We assure that their identity will not be disclosed. Our trained women police personnel will record statements,” a police officer said on Saturday.

Accused Jitender Reddy has been produced before court for judicial remand, police sources disclosed. Special teams have been formed to make more arrests in the case, as instructed by police commissioner V. C. Sajjanar, who is personally monitoring the investigation.