In a significant breakthrough for law enforcement agencies, Delhi Police have successfully arrested wanted gangster Harsimran, a key associate of foreign-based criminal Goldy Dhillon, following his deportation from Bangkok. The arrest came after the accused allegedly fled India using a counterfeit passport, officials confirmed on Saturday.
International Manhunt Ends
According to official sources, Harsimran left India in January 2024 using a forged passport issued under the fictitious name "Rajesh Singh" from Gorakhpur. Leveraging Dhillon's extensive criminal network and connections with human traffickers, he managed to reach Bangkok with intentions to subsequently travel to Dubai, the United States, and eventually Europe.
His attempts to enter European territory faced repeated failures. Initial efforts through Azerbaijan proved unsuccessful, followed by another failed attempt using the Belarus-Latvia-Poland route. These consecutive failures resulted in multiple deportations, forcing him to return to Bangkok for visa extension purposes.
Criminal Background and Current Status
Harsimran, officially classified as a "bad character" in the records of Shalimar Bagh police station, faces an astonishing 23 criminal cases spanning serious offenses including extortion, murder, and attempt to murder. News agency PTI reported that he has already been convicted in two cases and stands accused of threatening a key witness, demanding Rs 50 lakh to turn hostile during legal proceedings.
Earlier this year, a fresh FIR was registered against him in Mukherjee Nagar. After securing bail in his cases, he systematically stopped attending court hearings in at least 14 ongoing legal matters, demonstrating a pattern of evading justice.
International Coordination and Arrest
The Ministry of External Affairs played a crucial role in the operation by revoking the forged passport, thereby facilitating his deportation on Wednesday. Upon his arrival at Delhi airport, he was immediately taken into custody and formally arrested. Police have booked him under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act.
Investigative agencies had been tracking Harsimran's movements since the arrest of Mahender Singh in connection with a 2010 murder case. During interrogation, Singh revealed that weapons seized in the case had been sourced by Harsimran. This revelation prompted authorities to issue a Lookout Circular and coordinate with central agencies to locate him internationally.
Harsimran's criminal journey began unexpectedly as a wrestler in Delhi and Maharashtra before he transitioned into organized crime through local gangs operating in Burari and Sagarpur. His criminal evolution eventually led him to align with Goldy Dhillon's group, where he played a pivotal role in establishing international operations for the syndicate.
Goldy Dhillon, currently operating from Europe, remains a significant figure linked to multiple international extortion and firing cases, including the shootings at comedian Kapil Sharma's Kap's Café in Canada earlier this year. Police sources indicate that Dhillon has been actively working to expand his gang's overseas network with support from associates like Harsimran.
In a related development, the crime branch had previously arrested Bandhu Maan Singh Shekhon, another key aide of Dhillon, for his alleged involvement in three separate attacks on the same restaurant between July and October. These violent incidents were carried out using automatic weapons, highlighting the dangerous capabilities of the criminal network.
Harsimran is currently under intensive interrogation as authorities seek to unravel the full extent of his criminal activities and international connections.
