Barnala police busted a self-staged extortion drama on Sunday, allegedly orchestrated by a brick kiln owner and arrested five people, including him and two of his employees, in the case. One more accused is absconding.Barnala SSP Md Sarfaraz Alam said that Shivam Mittal, who owns a brick kiln on Ram Bagh Road here in Barnala, recently lodged a complaint claiming that he had received extortion threats from an international number demanding Rs 20 lakh.According to the police, Shivam alleged that on February 28 he received five WhatsApp audio messages from an international number, with the caller claiming links with a gangster group and demanding the money.On March 6, he again received WhatsApp calls from another number reiterating the threat.Following the complaint, police carried out a technical analysis of the mobile numbers and call details, which led to the identification and arrest of one Kamalpreet Singh.The SSP said, “During questioning, Kamalpreet revealed that the calls had been made at the instance of one Kulwant Rai, who had impersonated a gangster while speaking to the complainant. Based on his disclosure, Kulwant Rai was also arrested. Further investigation revealed that the plan had been orchestrated by Gurpreet Singh, who had provided Shivam’s mobile number and arranged Rs 4,500 online to facilitate the calls.”“He had also instigated Kulwant Rai and Kamalpreet Singh to make the extortion calls. Gurpreet has also been arrested,” claimed the SSP.During further inquiry, the police found that the complainant himself — Shivam Mittal — along with his driver Parmajit Singh and another associate Amit Saini had allegedly hatched the conspiracy and staged the extortion drama to gain police security and create a false impression of threat.Shivam and Parmajit Singh were arrested. Efforts are on to apprehend Amit Saini.Gurpreet is also an employee of Shivam, while both Kamalpreet and Kulwant are friends of Gurpreet.The police have registered an FIR under Sections 217 and 61(2) of the BNS and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at the City Barnala police station.The police have also recovered a .315 bore pistol with two live cartridges and an Innova car during the investigation.