Chandigarh, March 15 (IANS) Men of Haryana police's Special Task Force (STF) were caught on camera trying to extort Rs.10 lakh from a Panipat businessman. Seven STF officials have been taken into custody for the incident, police officials said Monday.

According to police, seven STF policemen robbed a jeweller of Rs.10 lakh in Panipat town, around 125 km from here, March 11.

'The same seven accused then went to the office of share broker Rajat Aggarwal on the same day (March 11) and demanded Rs. 10 lakh from him. Aggarwal gave them Rs.1 lakh and told them to return in the evening to take remaining amount,' said a police official.

'In the meantime, Aggarwal informed the police. We have collected the video footage of the CCTV camera, which was installed in his office, that showed the faces of two STF officials,' he added.

Director General of Police Ranjiv Dalal told reporters: 'We got complaints about 15 members of STF being involved in serious criminal activities in the past few days. We have told Panipat Superintendent of Police Rajinder Singh to probe the matter and to submit the report at the earliest.'

'We have taken into custody seven STF members, three ASIs (assistant sub-inspectors) and four constables. Our investigation is under process and I cannot divulge any further details at this point of time,' he said.

Dalal, however, refuted media reports that the state government had disbanded the force set up to tackle hardcore criminals, dacoits and Maoist rebels.

'We have told the STF to temporarily step down till the inquiry is over in this matter,' stated Dalal.