NEW DELHI: The Bambiha syndicate had demanded Rs 10 crore from a Rani Bagh-based businessman and fired around eight rounds at his house last Saturday to scare him into paying, a Delhi Police probe has revealed.
The ‘protection money’ was demanded by Pawan Shokeen, a US-based gangster currently staying in Sacramento, California, sources said.
The special cell said on Tuesday that it nabbed Bilal and Suhaib, two of Shokeen’s henchmen, for their alleged involvement in the shooting. One of them sustained a gunshot wound in the right leg when he resisted arrest, cops said. Sohail, a third suspect, is absconding.
A probe has revealed that Shokeen operates with Bambiha group kingpin Lucky Patial from US. Jailed gangsters Kaushal Chaudhary and Bhuppi Rana are handling operations from jail.
Both arrested men, police said, are amateurs from Bulandshahr, UP, and were contacted by Shokeen and tasked with the Rani Bagh reconnaissance and firing.
The shooters reached the businessman’s house around 8.15 pm on 26 Oct and fired multiple rounds. They left a slip with the scribble, ‘Kaushal Chaudhary-Pawan Shokeen-Bambiha Gang’.
A case was registered at Rani Bagh police station. The special cell was tasked with the investigation and a team comprising ACP Sanjay Dutt and Inspector Sandeep Dabas was formed.
Bilal and Suhaib were apprehended after being identified in CCTV footages. Suhaib was later spotted riding the bike used by them in Rani Bagh. Police mounted surveillance based on the information and received a tip off that the suspects would meet their associates in Kakrola.
Dutt and Dabas laid a trap and intercepted the two. When signalled to stop, they attempted a U-turn, but their bike slipped and police surrounded them. The suspects opened fire, and the police responded in self-defence, injuring one. A semi-automatic pistol, a single-shot firearm and live cartridges were found on them. Both confessed to their involvement in the crime and were arrested.
Shokeen was an arms supplier and was earlier lodged in Tihar jail. He used to operate along with a notorious arms supplier based in Khurja, UP, who provided the weapons used in Rani Bagh. A few months ago, Shokeen fled to US using the ‘Donkey route’ and started handling the Bambiha gang’s operations.
Delhi Police has been on its toes as the entry of the Bambiha gang complicates the scenario in Delhi’s underworld dominated by the Lawrence Bishnoi and Himanshu Bhau syndicates. Cops are particularly alarmed by the latest development because of the close association of the Bambiha gang with pro-Khalistani factions, including Khalistan Tiger Force.