- By Kamal Kumar
- Sat, 19 Oct 2024 12:32 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Vikash Yadav, a former Indian government official, who is now wanted by US federal agencies in connection to an assassination plot of Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, was arrested by Delhi Police Anti-Terror Wing for extortion last year. He later furnished bail after spending a few months at Delhi's Tihar Jail, a report stated on Saturday.
Delhi Police probe revealed that Yadav reportedly posed as an undercover agent of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to kidnap and extort money from Raj Kumar Walia, the complainant in the case, News18 reported.
Vikash Yadav Posed As NIA Agent, Extorted Money
The report stated that Vikash Yadav met Walia at a party a year prior to the alleged extortion case. According to the FIR, Walia, who lives in Rohini and runs a cafe and lounge in West Delhi’s Moti Nagar, was called by Vikash Yadav and his associate Abdullah to the NIA office. They told him that he had a serious threat to his well-being, prompting Walia to reach outside the NIA office on December 11.
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“The complainant, along with his friend Abhijit, went to meet Vikash Yadav, who was present with the accused Abdullah. Thereafter, the accused Abdullah pushed him into the car. The accused persons tortured and manhandled the complainant and demanded money in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi,” a court order quoted in the FIR states as reported by News18.
The FIR further stated that the accused individuals beat Walia and administered injections to him. They also forcefully obtained his signature on blank cheques, before dropping him back to his car with life threats if he ever talked about the incident.
“The accused persons beat him, administered injections, and hit him on the back of his neck. They also took a bank chequebook from the complainant’s café and obtained his signature on blank cheques, later dropping him near his car while threatening him to remain silent,” the FIR stated.
The police records showed that Vikash Yadav disclosed that his father was a BSF employee who died in 2007 and he got married in 2015.
What FBI Says About Vikash Yadav
The US Department of Justice indictment named Vikash Yadav alias Amanat alias Vikas as a co-conspirator in the plot to murder Pannun. He has been charged with murder-for-hire and money laundering offences in connection with the failed assassination plot. 'He remains at large," the DoJ said.
