Latest news with #DelhiPoliceCrimeBranch
India Gazette
2 days ago
- India Gazette
Delhi Police Crime Branch nabs Nigerian national with cocaine in Tilak Nagar
New Delhi [India], June 1 (ANI): The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a Nigerian national in connection with the possession and intended distribution of 282 grams of cocaine. The arrest was made during a targeted operation in the Old Mahabir Nagar area of Tilak Nagar, Delhi, following specific intelligence inputs. Deputy Commissioner of Police, ANTF (Crime Branch), Apoorva Gupta, stated that the accused, identified as David Leanne, was caught carrying a bag containing a yellow-coloured powdery substance. A field test conducted on-site by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team confirmed the substance to be cocaine, classified as a commercial quantity under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. A case has been registered under FIR at the Crime Branch Police Station, and further investigation is underway. This operation was the result of dedicated surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts led by ASI who received credible information about a foreign national involved in cocaine distribution across the Delhi-NCR region. The ANTF team swiftly responded and laid a trap in the Tilak Nagar area, where Leanne was apprehended. During interrogation, Leanne disclosed that he was working as a drug carrier for a cartel operated by another Nigerian national named Leo. He claimed to have entered the narcotics trade approximately six months ago, after being introduced to Leo through an African community kitchen he had set up in Tilak Nagar. According to his statement, he was supposed to receive Rs. 35,000 for delivering the seized consignment. Further investigation led to the discovery of a passport from the Republic of South Africa in Leanne's name. The passport, along with the associated visa, was found to be fake. Leanne admitted that he had procured the forged documents through a contact in Tilak Nagar. A search was also conducted at his rented residence in Krishna Puri, Tilak Nagar, where he lives with his wife and one-year-old son, DCP Gupta Said. Leanne, originally from Amube district in Enugu State, Nigeria, arrived in India in 2015 on a medical visa valid for three months. Since then, he remained in India illegally, initially opening a series of salons and later working as a property agent and running a kitchen. Following financial difficulties, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, he allegedly turned to drug peddling. The Delhi Police Crime Branch has launched a search to trace Leo and other associates involved in the drug syndicate. Efforts are ongoing to dismantle the broader network and identify the source of the contraband. Authorities emphasised their continued commitment to cracking down on narcotics and safeguarding the community from the dangers posed by illegal drug trafficking. (ANI)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Former wrestler arrested after eight year manhunt for supplying firearms to criminals
New Delhi: After an eight-year manhunt, the Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested a former national-level wrestler accused of supplying firearms to criminals. The accused, identified as Sonu, is a resident of Kirthal village in Baghpat. He was apprehended from his hometown. According to police, on April 6, 2016, they received intelligence that two suspects, Rahul alias Sunny and Vikash alias Vicky, who were believed to be involved in the murder of cable operator Devindra Rathi, were planning a retaliatory attack on Rathi's brother in Sector-36, Rohini. Both suspects were arrested at the scene. During the operation, police recovered a cache of illegal weapons, including a pistol, a country-made firearm, and 10 live cartridges. During interrogation, the duo revealed that the arms were supplied by Sonu. Despite multiple efforts to apprehend him over the years, Sonu managed to evade arrest—until now. He was finally arrested on May 29. Police reported that Sonu was once a promising national-level wrestler, but his athletic career ended abruptly in 2013 after a severe road accident resulted in the amputation of his right leg. Struggling with financial hardship and personal loss, he turned to crime in a desperate attempt to support his family. He and his accomplices have since been linked to several serious offences, including dacoity and murder. Investigations also revealed his active involvement in the illegal arms trade, as well as the distribution of illicit liquor to various criminal groups. Sonu is wanted in six criminal cases involving murder, dacoity, attempted murder, kidnapping leading to murder, rape, and violations under the SC/ST Act, Arms Act, and the UP Excise Act.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- India Gazette
Delhi Crime Branch arrests ex-national level wrestler turned arms supplier after 8-year manhunt
New Delhi [India], May 31 (ANI): After an intensive eight-year manhunt, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested Sonu, alias Pahalwan, alias Sonu Langada, a 32-year-old former national-level wrestler from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, declaring him a Proclaimed Offender in an Arms Act case. The arrest, made on Thursday from his native village, marks a significant breakthrough in dismantling an illegal arms supply chain linked to multiple heinous crimes, including murder and dacoity, as per a press release. According to the Crime Branch, the arrest stems from a 2016 case where Sonu was identified as the supplier of illegal arms to suspects Rahul alias Sunny and Vikash alias Vicky, involved in the murder of cable operator Devindra Rathi. On April 6, 2016, a tip-off led to the arrest of Rahul and Vikash in Sector-36 of Rohini, as they allegedly planned a follow-up attack on Rathi's brother. The operation recovered one pistol, one country-made firearm, and 10 live cartridges, with both accused disclosing Sonu as their supplier, leading to a case under Section 25 of the Arms Act at PS Crime Branch in Delhi. Despite multiple attempts, Sonu evaded capture and was declared a Proclaimed Offender on June 29, 2017, by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, North District, Rohini Courts. The case is still under trial before the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Rohini Courts. The breakthrough came on May 29 when a Crime Branch team, acting on credible secret information and combining technical surveillance with manual intelligence, travelled to Village Kirthal, PS Ramala, District Baghpat of Uttar Pradesh. After a one-hour operation, they successfully apprehended Sonu. During interrogation, Sonu revealed that his promising wrestling career was cut short in 2013 due to a road accident that resulted in the amputation of his right leg, plunging him into financial hardship. He admitted to turning to crime to support his family, becoming involved in supplying firearms and liquor to criminal networks, and participating in crimes like dacoity and murder, as detailed in the press release. (ANI)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Delhi Crime Branch arrests ex-national level wrestler turned arms supplier after 8-year manhunt
After an intensive eight-year manhunt, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested Sonu, alias Pahalwan, alias Sonu Langada , a 32-year-old former national-level wrestler from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, declaring him a Proclaimed Offender in an Arms Act case. The arrest, made on Thursday from his native village, marks a significant breakthrough in dismantling an illegal arms supply chain linked to multiple heinous crimes, including murder and dacoity, as per a press release. According to the Crime Branch, the arrest stems from a 2016 case where Sonu was identified as the supplier of illegal arms to suspects Rahul alias Sunny and Vikash alias Vicky, involved in the murder of cable operator Devindra Rathi. On April 6, 2016, a tip-off led to the arrest of Rahul and Vikash in Sector-36 of Rohini, as they allegedly planned a follow-up attack on Rathi's brother. The operation recovered one pistol, one country-made firearm, and 10 live cartridges, with both accused disclosing Sonu as their supplier, leading to a case under Section 25 of the Arms Act at PS Crime Branch in Delhi. Despite multiple attempts, Sonu evaded capture and was declared a Proclaimed Offender on June 29, 2017, by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, North District, Rohini Courts. The case is still under trial before the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Rohini Courts. Live Events The breakthrough came on May 29 when a Crime Branch team, acting on credible secret information and combining technical surveillance with manual intelligence, travelled to Village Kirthal, PS Ramala, District Baghpat of Uttar Pradesh. After a one-hour operation, they successfully apprehended Sonu. During interrogation, Sonu revealed that his promising wrestling career was cut short in 2013 due to a road accident that resulted in the amputation of his right leg, plunging him into financial hardship. He admitted to turning to crime to support his family, becoming involved in supplying firearms and liquor to criminal networks, and participating in crimes like dacoity and murder, as detailed in the press release.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Hans India
Police bust interstate auto robbery syndicate, recover 8 high-end cars
New Delhi: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted an interstate syndicate involved in the theft and resale of high-end vehicles, a statement said on Friday. The gang used a sophisticated modus operandi to sell stolen cars through online platforms by forging documents, opening bank accounts with fake identities, and tampering with engine and chassis numbers. In a series of coordinated operations, the police arrested a key member of the gang and recovered eight luxury vehicles. According to Delhi Police, the breakthrough came with the arrest of Rakesh Patel alias Pappu (38), a core operative of the syndicate, near Sahibabad Railway Station in Ghaziabad on April 21, 2025. Acting on a tip-off, police apprehended him while he was attempting to sell a stolen Maruti Wagon-R via an online platform. Patel, a resident of Sahibabad, Ghaziabad (UP), and originally from Mohiuddin Nagar, Samastipur (Bihar), played a central role in managing theft operations and delivering stolen vehicles across states. His associates arranged vehicles, counterfeit documents, and fake number plates. The gang's method was notably elaborate. After stealing a car, they searched online car-selling portals for vehicles of the same make, model, and colour. Using open-source information, they identified details of genuine owners and forged documents in the owner's name -- featuring the photograph of one of the accused. They also opened bank accounts using these fake identities. To avoid detection, the syndicate would tamper with the stolen car's engine and chassis numbers to match those of the legitimate vehicle. Fake Registration Certificates (RCs) were then prepared, making the stolen car appear genuine. Once the vehicle was thus 'cloned,' it was listed for sale on online platforms. The syndicate targeted high-demand vehicles, often choosing cars parked in low-surveillance or roadside areas. The police noted the gang's use of advanced technological tools to support their operations. A team led by Inspector Arun Sindhu of the Crime Branch spearheaded the investigation, which led to the arrest and recovery of the stolen vehicles.
