Gurgaon: A group of more than 30 men travelling in a convoy of around 20 SUVs allegedly stormed an office building construction site in Dhanwapur on Wednesday and threatened a contractor with death unless he paid “protection money” to continue supplying soil and water to projects in sectors 106 and 108.The alleged intimidation, carried out in the name of jailed gangster Kaushal Chaudhary, comes barely a week after four shooters linked to the Deepak Nandal gang were killed in an encounter in Sushant Lok after opening fire at a businessman’s house over an alleged Rs 10-crore extortion demand.Police have begun an inquiry into the complaint of the contractor, who has sought protection for himself and his family. CCTV footage purportedly showing the convoy arriving at the site has also surfaced, though no FIR had been registered till Thursday evening.According to sources, in the complaint lodged at Rajendra Park police station, the contractor named a municipal councillor and several others. He alleged they were trying to force him out of the business and seize lucrative contracts linked to the supply of soil and water for construction projects.“We supply water tankers and soil to construction sites. After leaving one site around 2.30pm, I received a call from the guard saying 25-30 men had come looking for me. They had threatened me a month ago too, warning they would shoot me if I did not pay. They want our work orders cancelled and are directly connected with gangster Kaushal Chaudhary,” the contractor alleged.Police sources said the dispute appears rooted in a turf war between rival groups with criminal antecedents competing for high-value construction supply contracts. They are also examining the backgrounds of those named in the complaint. According to sources, the complainant is allegedly associated with jailed criminal Sunil alias Tota, who faces multiple extortion cases.The incident has once again put the spotlight on the extortion economy that has increasingly gripped parts of Delhi-NCR. Police said gangs are targeting builders, contractors, transporters and businessmen involved in land and infrastructure projects, demanding protection money, or attempting to control contracts. Even when gang leaders are lodged in jail or operating from abroad, they are alleged to continue issuing threats through local associates.Last week’s Sushant Lok encounter had exposed the growing brazenness of such syndicates. Police alleged five hired shooters linked to UK-based gangster Deepak Nandal had landed up at a businessman’s house to intimidate him. After a police team intercepted them, it led to an exchange of over 60 rounds of fire in one of the city’s most upscale neighbourhoods.
