SSP Akhilesh Jha with the arrested youths at his office on Thursday. Picture by Animesh Sengupta

An extortion ring, run and masterminded by a construction supervisor or munshi and three of his cronies, has been unearthed in the steel city following arrests on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Police, who trapped and caught all four red-handed, have recovered an extortion instalment of Rs 5,000, a pocket diary containing mobile numbers of prominent builders, three mobile phone handsets used to terrorise these businessmen and a bike (registration No. JH-05W-3753) that served as an escape vehicle.

According to East Singhbhum SSP Akhilesh Kumar Jha, the gang had become active for two weeks or so.

A Sonari-based builder — whose name is being withheld for security reasons — received as many as four calls from two cellphone numbers, 8102527773 and 76775659989, since August 3. The caller asked him to fork out Rs 2.5 lakh or face dire consequences.

The fourth call, with specifics of the location where the money was to be delivered, came at 10am on Tuesday. This time the builder mustered courage and informed police.

“The person who called and threatened the builder had identified himself as Binod Singh. He sought Rs 50,000 in unmarked bills as first instalment by Tuesday evening near a park adjacent to JRD Tata Sports Complex. The builder lodged a written complaint with Sonari police. The cellphone numbers were tracked and a trap laid. The builder was asked to carry Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 50,000,” Jha said.

It was 8.40pm when three youths arrived on a motorbike to collect the cash. They were caught red-handed. They have been identified as Binod Singh (25), a resident of Lohia Path in Baridih bustee, and Akhilesh Singh (22) of Bhuiyandih’s Gwala Basti. The third, also a resident of Lohia Path, is only 16 years old. Police will send him to a remand home in Ghaghidih.

Based on the trio’s confessional statement, their fourth accomplice — Sujay Sahu (22) of Baridih bustee — was picked up from his residence on Wednesday morning.

“During our course of investigation, we have found that Binod, being in the construction business, legitimately had the mobile numbers of prominent builders. He used this to his advantage. Some builders may have already paid them money. We will probe details,” the SSP said.