Report: Manmeen Walia, New Delhi
Delhi Police Special Cell/Southern Range has arrested a desperate and absconding criminal, Sohrab @ Sourav @ Sourabh, age 38, a resident of Sadar Cantt., Lucknow.
He was arrested from the Park Street area of Kolkata, West Bengal by a team led by Inspector Pawan Kumar and Inspector Satvinder, under the close supervision of ACP Neeraj Kumar.
Sohrab was released on furlough on 19 May 25 in a case of PS Krishna Nagar but never returned to jail after the furlough period ended, and had been on the run since then.
A dedicated team—comprising SI Nishant Suran, SI Pankaj, SI Anil, ASI Mohit, ASI Rakesh, ASI Jitender, ASI Chitranjan, HC Mahesh, HC Avdhesh and W/Ct Pinki—was formed to trace him.
The team began its search from Shahdara, Delhi, and then followed multiple leads across Lucknow, Barabanki, Bahraich, Moradabad, Nanpara (near India-Nepal border) and finally Kolkata.
During the investigation of another case an arrested accused Naseem revealed that Sohrab was also involved in illegal arms procurement.
Finally, the Special Cell received specific information that Sohrab would visit an IVF clinic at Park Street, Kolkata. A trap was laid, and when he was spotted, the team identified themselves and asked him to surrender. Instead, he tried to escape, but the team overpowered him and arrested him safely.
Sohrab’s criminal history is long and violent. He began his criminal activities in 2005, committing sensational murders in Lucknow to avenge his younger brother’s death.
In 2007, he escaped from police custody during a court production in a triple-murder case.
Over the years, accused involved in over 30 heinous crimes – murder, robbery, extortion he became one of the top 10 most-wanted criminals of Uttar Pradesh, other than this he is an active criminal of Delhi & Lucknow, known as the “Serial Killer” of UP. He escaped after being released on furlough from Tihar Jail. His arrest made during a high-risk operation by Special Cell/Southern Range
Major Crimes Linked to Sohrab
• Broad daylight murder of Saif Haider Saifi on 02.03.2011.
• Murder of former BJP councillor Shyam Narayan Pandey @ Pappu Pandey in 2013 through hired shooters.
• Killing of Mohd. Zaid Shakeel in 2016, grandson of ex-MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq.
• While in jail, he continued extorting businessmen across UP cities like Allahabad, Varanasi, Kanpur and Lucknow, under the protection of gangster Mukhtar Ansari.
• Daytime jewellery shop robbery in Krishna Nagar, where the owner of Gambhir Jewellers was murdered. He and two of his brothers were convicted and given life imprisonment.
After jumping furlough, his name again appeared in the investigation of the ongoing arms case.
The Special Cell team arrested him in Kolkata on 18 Nov25, and he was produced before the court on 19 Nov25
The Delhi Police has obtained a 3-day transit remand and is bringing him back to Delhi for further investigation.
In this highly sensitive and interstate operation, DCP Aalap Patel, Special Cell/Southern Range, led from the front with exceptional supervision and strategic direction. Under his leadership, the team demonstrated remarkable coordination, swift action, and unwavering commitment, successfully tracking a high-risk and most-wanted criminal across multiple states. The relentless efforts of Inspectors Pawan Kumar and Satvinder, supported by the dedicated team members, played a crucial role in ensuring the safe arrest of Sohrab. This meticulous operation reflects the outstanding professionalism, efficiency, and courage of the Delhi Police Special Cell.
