Extortionist targeting lone car drivers, bizmen in Bengaluru lands in police net

Bengaluru: Jameel Khan, an extortionist who used to target lone car drivers with false accident claims , has once again landed in police net. Khan's latest arrest follows a complaint filed by 78-year-old businessman M Chandrashekhar of Shantinagar.

On June 2, Khan approached Chandrashekhar near MG Road, alleging that the latter had injured his brother in a road accident. Khan demanded Rs 1 lakh as compensation, but before Chandrashekhar could respond, he intimidated him into handing over Rs 5,500 and then disappeared.

Shaken by the experience, Chandrashekhar shared the incident with friends. One of them recalled reading about Khan in TOI recently and shared the article with him. Chandrashekhar identified Khan and filed a complaint with Ashoknagar police.

Police traced Khan to his residence at Rajendranagar in Mysuru. However, they were surprised to learn that he had already been arrested in another extortion case by Suddaguntepalya police and was lodged at Central Prison, Bengaluru. Ashoknagar police have taken Khan into custody on a body warrant and launched a probe.

"It's shocking that someone could rob me on a busy street like MG Road. I'm glad police acted quickly. But it's worrying that this man has been arrested so many times and yet keeps repeating his crimes. I hope the system stops him from hurting more people," Chandrashekhar told TOI

In the earlier case registered in Suddaguntepalya, Khan had extorted Rs 61,000 from a 55-year-old man on May 21. He used a similar modus operandi, accusing the victim of injuring his brother and forcing him to transfer the money online. The incident took place in broad daylight near Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research at 9.45am.

Probe revealed that Khan is a habitual offender, with this being the 19th case registered against him. Police said after every crime, Khan's would drink heavily and then feast on mutton biryani. He frequents lodges in areas like Jayanagar, JP Nagar, and Tilaknagar to lie low.

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