India, June 15 -- The Delhi Police busted an extortion racket and arrested three men for allegedly extorting transporters and animal traders by posing as animal welfare enforcers, misusing the name of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and threatening the traders with firearms.

Three accused - Ravinder Sharma (47), Pawan Kumar (56), and Mustaq Ali (50) - were arrested on Wednesday. According to police, the trio are active members of the "Pawan gang" and operated a well-organised extortion gang in and around the Ghazipur Mandi with five to six more gang members.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Harsh Indora said the gang members posed as animal welfare enforcers or vigilantes and used the threat of SPCA action t...