Notorious Gangster's Parole Escape Ends in Dramatic Kolkata Arrest
In a dramatic operation that ended a five-month manhunt, the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested a notorious Uttar Pradesh gangster from an IVF center on Kolkata's upscale Park Street. Shorab, 38, who had jumped parole from Tihar Jail in June, was finally apprehended on Tuesday after a meticulous 15-day surveillance operation by elite police teams.
The Elusive Criminal and His Medical Hideout
According to police sources, Shorab was visiting the IVF center on Park Street to seek medical treatment for his wife when the special cell team closed in on him. The gangster from Lucknow had been granted a three-day parole by a Delhi court on June 28 specifically to visit his wife in Lucknow, but instead of returning to prison, he fled with his wife, beginning a nationwide search operation.
"A team from the Southern Range of the Special Cell camped for 15 days near Park Street to nab him as they got a tip-off about his presence in that area," revealed a police source involved in the operation. Following his arrest, Shorab was produced before a Kolkata court and subsequently transported back to Delhi to face additional charges for violating parole conditions.
The Terror Trio: Brothers with Violent Legacy
Shorab is part of a dangerous criminal trio that includes his two elder brothers, Saleem and Rustom, all hailing from Sadar Bazar in Lucknow. According to police records, the brothers have been involved in over two dozen criminal cases spanning Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, creating what officers describe as a "reign of terror" that affected everyone from businessmen to politicians.
The brothers were initially arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2011 in connection with a brutal robbery-murder case. Their criminal portfolio includes some of the most daring crimes in both states:
- Murder of former MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq's nephew in Lucknow
- Killing of social worker Saifi in Lucknow's Wazirganj area
- Orchestrating the murder of municipal councillor Pappu Pandey in 2013 while already incarcerated
- A 2011 jewelry shop robbery in East Delhi's Krishna Nagar where they shot owner Gaurav Gambhir
A senior Delhi Police officer recalled their notorious reputation, stating the brothers were known for opening fire without hesitation and had recruited unemployed youth to expand their criminal network.
From Teenage Criminals to Most Wanted
The brothers' descent into crime began surprisingly early, with police records indicating they turned to criminal activities as teenagers. In one particularly brazen incident in 2005, they allegedly killed three people within 90 minutes across different areas of Lucknow - Hussainganj, Khadra, and Madiaon. The murders were reportedly in retaliation for their brother's killing, and they allegedly called the district police chief beforehand, daring him to stop them.
At the time of their 2011 arrest following a shootout in East Delhi's Vishwas Nagar, the brothers were among the most wanted criminals on UP Police's list. The Delhi Police had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for each brother. Shorab himself faces 30 criminal cases including murder, attempt to murder, robbery, and extortion.
Previous Controversies and VIP Treatment
This isn't the first time Shorab has made headlines while in custody. In 2019, he was caught along with his wife and sister in a Lucknow hotel room while supposedly under police escort to a court appearance in Kanpur. The six-member escort team was found resting in another room while Shorab met his family, leading to the suspension of all involved officers for "dereliction of duty."
Due to their notoriety, the trio were often produced in court via video conferencing, with officers revealing that the brothers feared the UP Police would kill them in an encounter. The gang also enjoyed the patronage of Eastern UP's gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, according to police sources.
The arrest marks another chapter in the long criminal history of the brothers, whose criminal enterprise spanned from Lucknow to Delhi, leaving a trail of violence and fear in their wake. The Delhi Police has informed their Uttar Pradesh counterparts about the successful operation, ensuring the gangster will now face justice for both his original crimes and his parole violation.
