New Delhi, April 1 Two Delhi Police personnel were suspended and arrested for allegedly robbing a businessman from Uttar Pradesh of Rs 8.4 lakh near Ajmal Khan Park in central Delhi, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, sub-inspector Mahavir and constable Vicky, posted at Desh Bandhu Gupta Road police station, were arrested on March 30 and later sent to judicial custody, they said.
The action followed a complaint lodged by Deepak Soni, a resident of Jalaun in Uttar Pradesh, who had come to Delhi on March 24, police said.
Police sources said that Soni was preparing to open a new jewellery shop and had come to Delhi to purchase gold and silver, adding that he had been contacted by a Delhi-based man, Anil, who lured him to the city on the pretext of helping him source jewellery.
On the day of the incident, Anil took Soni near Ajmal Khan Park, where two policemen allegedly arrived, forcibly entered the car, and began threatening him, they said.
Soni claimed the two accused recorded a video of him carrying Rs 10.4 lakh in cash and threatened to send him to jail by framing him as a smuggler of counterfeit currency, police sources said.
In his complaint, Soni alleged that the accused fled with Rs 8.4 lakh, police said.
"The complaint reached the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) on March 25 and was taken up immediately. Taking serious note of the allegations, senior officers ordered prompt departmental action," they said.
Considering the gravity of the complaint, both accused were placed under suspension with immediate effect, and a preliminary inquiry was initiated. During the inquiry, the allegations were substantiated, they added.
A case was registered at DBG Road police station under sections 309(4) (robbery), 127(1) (wrongful confinement), and 3(4) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police said. Police said efforts are underway to trace Anil, who lured the victim to Delhi.
Further investigation is underway, including efforts to recover the alleged amount, they added.