The Surat Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) has successfully apprehended a notorious criminal from Uttar Pradesh, who carried a cumulative reward of Rs 1.5 lakh on his head. The accused, identified as Sholey Singh Thakur alias Anand Singh (26), was captured from the Khatodara area. Police officials have confirmed that he led the “Sholey Gang” and was implicated in numerous serious offenses, including murder, extortion, firing, and attempted murder.
Rewards and Arrest Details
Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur and Pratapgarh districts had announced rewards of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000, respectively, for any information leading to Singh’s arrest. Additional Commissioner of Police Karanraj Vaghela stated that the DCB’s anti-organised crime squad received a tip-off indicating that a notorious criminal hiding in Palsana was planning a major crime in Surat. Acting on this intelligence, the team arrested Sholey Singh, who is wanted in five serious offenses registered at various police stations in Uttar Pradesh. In total, nine criminal cases have been registered against him.
Extortion and Violent Crimes
According to police, Singh allegedly demanded Rs 1 crore in extortion from the principal of St Xavier’s School in Badlapur, Jaunpur. To terrorize the victim, he fired four rounds outside the school gate. In another incident, he demanded Rs 50 lakh as protection money from a doctor in Badlapur and opened fire when the demand was not met, resulting in a bullet injury to the doctor’s leg. Singh also threatened a bank manager in Uttar Pradesh. After the school principal refused to pay, Singh returned to the school and fired additional rounds near the gate to create fear.
Criminal Ambitions and Gang Formation
Investigators revealed that Singh aspired to establish himself as a “bahubali” (strongman) in Jaunpur district and formed his own gang by recruiting criminals from various gangs operating in Uttar Pradesh. The gang was active in the Badlapur, Baksha, Pratapgarh, and Jaunpur areas, where they targeted businessmen and influential persons for extortion.
Seizure of Weapons
Police seized two pistols and six live cartridges from the accused. Investigators suspect that these same weapons were used in crimes committed in Uttar Pradesh.
Escape and Life in Surat
Singh had taken shelter in Surat after Uttar Pradesh police intensified efforts to trace him. Investigators found that he had previously lived in Surat and worked as a tailor and later as a security guard, which helped him remain unnoticed in the city for some time.
About the Author
Vishal Patadiya is the assistant editor with 20 years of experience in journalism. He has widely covered political, government administration, civic, aviation, crime, and health beats, delivering many breaking and exclusive stories with impact. He has covered all Gujarat civic, assembly, and Lok Sabha elections since 2006, as well as major events including Vibrant Summits, Surat floods, hooch tragedy, Ahmedabad bomb blast, Asaram Ashram deaths, and Patidar agitation.
