New Delhi, September 11: The mastermind, Sanjay Tewari, who allegedly staged a fake sting operation on three Jharkhand MPs, is still absconding. The police have arrested three persons from the residence of MP Rameshwar Oraon on Sunday evening while they were trying to extort money from the ministers.

“We have registered three FIRs following complaints from MPs Rameshwar Oraon, Sushila Kerketta (both Cong) and Tek Lal Mahto (JMM). The gang had approached he MPs posing as secretary of Tribal Affairs Minister P R Kyndiah,” said DCP (New Delhi) Anand Mohan.

The trio had offered to get projects sanctioned for Rs 18 crore in each MP’s constituency and asked for a five-per cent commission in return. Next day, they returned claiming that they were from Aaj Tak and had videotaped the entire conversation. They threatened to air the CD if they were not paid.

The police are also investigating whether a TV channel was involved in helping the conmen conduct the operation. Police investigations have revealed that the gang has been operational for past several years and has been extorting money using the same modus operandi.

On October 30, 2005, two gang members, Ajay Pratap Singh and Anand Pal, were arrested red handed from Timarpur while they were extorting money from gas agency workers.