A criminal wanted in multiple cases of attempt to murder and robbery, Yoginder Sharma aka Monu Pehelwan, has been caught by a team of the south-east district police.
Police say that Monu was engaged in a turf battle to gain control of a gang of extortionists active in east Delhi.
He was wanted in connection with a case of robbery and three cases of attempt to murder in east Delhi.
ADVERTISEMENT
Trap is laid
Acting on a tip-off received on Wednesday that a criminal and shooter associated with the gangster Dharambir, also known as Billa, would be meeting an associate at Okhla Mandi, the police formed a team and laid a trap.
At about 5.30 p.m., Monu made his way to a bus stand at Okhla Mandi and was apprehended by the police.
ADVERTISEMENT
The police recovered a loaded automatic .765mm pistol as well as six live cartridges from the accused.
Later, an FIR was registered at the Amar Colony police station as per provisions of the Arms Act.
Extortion bids
South-east Delhi district Deputy Commissioner of Police Romil Baaniya said that sustained interrogation, the 28-year-old accused told the police about his involvement in extortion bids.
Monu told the police that he had started wrestling at an akhara in Gonda and then got work as a personal security officer to a financier in the area. He soon started working as a recovery agent for financiers, which led him to associate with some local goons. Attracted to the lifestyle, Monu became a financier himself, lending money to auto-rickshaw drivers, scrap dealers and vendors.
This work led him to come into conflict with a gang that included one Kamaljeet or Bittu, Charanjeet or Dabbu and Billa, who would extort money from him.
After a falling out between Billa and Dabbu, Monu decided to side with Billa and began extorting money. After Billa was arrested in November 2016 for plotting to murder their rival Bittu, Monu was left in charge of the gang.