Report: Manmeen Walia,New Delhi
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested two notorious criminals and recovered sophisticated firearms, successfully preventing a major act of violence in the capital. The accused have been identified as Sukhpreet alias Mafia (27), son of Gurdeep Singh, resident of Vikash Vihar, Chander Vihar, Delhi, and Shamshad Ali alias Pahalwan (25), son of Rahisuddin, resident of Khyala Village, Delhi. During the operation, a loaded pistol with two live cartridges was seized from Shamshad Ali, while a single-shot loaded pistol was recovered from Sukhpreet. A case under FIR No. 254/25, u/s 25 Arms Act, PS Crime Branch, Delhi has been registered against them.
As part of its intensified crackdown on organized crime, the Anti-Gang Syndicate (AGS) unit of the Crime Branch developed specific intelligence about the movements of these two individuals. Acting on this information, a special team led by Inspector Krishan Kumar, and comprising SI Agam, SI Mukesh, SI Braj Lal, ASI Narender, ASI Surender, HC Dharmraj, HC Vinod, HC Tarik, HC Anoop, and HC Deepak, was formed under the close supervision of ACP Bhagwati Prasad and the directions of DCP Crime Branch, Harsh Indora, IPS. The officers combined manual intelligence with technical surveillance, discreet inquiries, and inputs from secret informers to trace the suspects. On the intervening night of 19/20 September 2025, the team successfully apprehended both men from the Raghubir Nagar area of Delhi. According to police, both accused had been released from jail about two months ago and were preparing to retaliate against rivals. Their arrest averted a serious outbreak of violence in the city.
Sukhpreet alias Mafia, 27, studied up to Class 9 at a private school in Punjabi Bagh. He stepped into crime in 2019 after a violent altercation at a PVR Vikaspuri outlet, which led to a case under Section 308 IPC. In 2020, he, along with his associates, was involved in the shooting of a local bookmaker named Shanki in Tilak Vihar. A case under Section 396 IPC was registered against him at PS Nihal Vihar. Since then, he has remained active in criminal circles, particularly in the procurement and distribution of illegal firearms.
Shamshad Ali alias Pahalwan, 25, studied till Class 9 in Khyala but discontinued his education in 2013. He first came into contact with crime in 2015 when he was arrested under the Excise Act at PS Inderpuri. In 2023, along with associates including Sonu Punjaban and Ankit alias RDX, he looted 38 gold biscuits from a scooter-rider in Mianwali Nagar. He was arrested in that case, and the looted property was recovered. More recently, in July 2025, he and his associates robbed betting money in the Chaukhandi area under PS Tilak Nagar. He had also arranged pistols and cartridges for himself and others in preparation for a violent confrontation with his rivals.
Both individuals are habitual offenders with multiple cases already registered against them. Sukhpreet’s record includes cases of murder, attempt to murder, robbery, and assault, while Shamshad has been previously booked under cases of robbery, illegal possession of arms, and the Excise Act.
DCP Crime Branch, Harsh Indora, IPS, commended the efforts of his team and said, “This operation reflects our commitment to neutralizing dangerous criminals operating in Delhi. The timely arrest of these men has not only prevented a major incident of violence but also ensured greater safety for the public.” Both accused have been produced before the court and remain in police custody, while further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend their associates.
