By IANS,
New Delhi : A Tihar Jail inmate arrested for running an extortion racket from prison and collecting Rs.50,000 from a businessman here has told investigators that he also targeted five other victims, police said Thursday.
Amit Shukla, 25, who was arrested Sunday with his aide Arun Kumar, an assistant in the jail dispensary, told investigators that he had been extorting money from six businessmen since the past six months. Shukla is in police custody till Feb 2.
“We are approaching the people to whom he made extortion calls from inside the jail,” a police officer told IANS.
The jail authorities are also inquiring into the matter.
Vimla Mehra, director general of prisons, told IANS: “We are trying to check the laxity from our side. Action will be taken once the report comes within four days.”
In March 2009, Amit was arrested along with four associates for robbing and murdering TV journalist Saumya Vishwanathan in south Delhi.
Police said they detected the extortion racket operating from jail after keeping two mobile phone numbers under surveillance following a complaint.
It was also found that Shukla and his aide extorted Rs.50,000 from Rajinder, a businessmen from Karawal Nagar in east Delhi.