A Delhi Police constable posted with the North District Cyber Cell has been arrested after police linked him to the alleged kidnapping of a shopkeeper and a ransom demand in Old Delhi, officials said on Monday.
The accused has been identified as Moin Ali, a 29-year-old constable of the 2024 batch from Budhana in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. He was arrested on Sunday, October 19, 2026, along with at least one associate by a team from Kotwali police station in the North District. After the arrest, Ali was suspended from service and sent to judicial custody.
How the case surfaced
According to police, the matter came to light after information was received about a kidnapping and ransom demand. During the investigation, technical intelligence and other inputs reportedly pointed to the cyber cell constable’s involvement. Some reports also say police are still looking for two additional suspects, though the investigation into everyone’s role is continuing.
Reported sequence of events
Police accounts say the alleged incident took place in the Lal Quila (Red Fort) / Jama Masjid area of Old Delhi, around Ghadi Market. Officials stated that Ali, along with a childhood friend identified as Sonu and another associate named Akhtar, targeted a local shopkeeper.
Sonu is said to have known that the victim had recently recorded good sales and suggested extorting money from him. On Sunday morning, the accused allegedly approached the shopkeeper, lured him near a car, and forced him inside. He was then taken to different locations while ransom demands were made to his family or friends.
Victim identity and ransom claims
Hindi media reports name the victim as Ravi, or Ravi Dubey, and describe him variously as a watch seller or street vendor operating in the area. Those reports cite a ransom demand of around ₹1.5 lakh. One detailed account from Hindustan Times says the initial demand was ₹5 lakh and was later negotiated down during calls.
A friend of the victim refused to pay and alerted the police through PCR on Sunday evening. Police then laid a trap. The accused were called near New Delhi Railway Station to collect the money, where Ali and an associate were arrested on Sunday night. By then, the victim had already been released and reached home safely.
Action taken and ongoing probe
The case has drawn attention because a serving police personnel posted with the cyber cell is among the accused. Officials have confirmed that the investigation is examining the full circumstances of the abduction and the roles of all those involved. Ali’s suspension and judicial custody followed standard procedure after his arrest.
Police have not issued a detailed official statement beyond confirming the arrest, suspension, and ongoing probe. The matter has also come up against the backdrop of other recent cases involving Delhi Police personnel, including a May case in which a constable was among those arrested in a robbery in the Bara Hindu Rao area.
