The crime branch's anti-extortion cell arrested three residents of Punjab on Friday for allegedly attempting to sell three foreign-made firearms and live cartridges in Mumbai. Acting on a tip-off, a police team laid a trap near St George's Hospital in Fort and apprehended Sukhvindar Chandrapal (24), Jasanpreet Mangal Singh (24), and Arbaz Chaudhary (34).
Seizure and Legal Action
From the trio, police seized three pistols manufactured in China, along with magazines and 45 live cartridges. According to officials, each pistol is valued at approximately Rs 3 lakh, while each bullet is worth Rs 100. The MRA Marg police initially registered a case under the Arms Act, which was later transferred to the anti-extortion cell for further investigation.
Criminal Backgrounds
Preliminary investigations revealed that Chandrapal and Singh are wanted in connection with a 2022 murder case in Patiala, where a youth was stabbed to death by multiple accused. While five individuals have already been arrested in that case, these two had been absconding. Chaudhary, on the other hand, has 19 criminal cases registered against him, including charges of attempted murder, extortion, kidnapping, rioting, assault, and criminal intimidation.
Possible Links to Lawrence Bishnoi Gang
The crime branch is exploring potential connections between the arrested individuals and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. This line of inquiry stems from the fact that most gang members arrested in Mumbai over the past two years have hailed from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The police will also inform Punjab authorities about the arrests to coordinate further investigations.
