Cops close in on Kaushal with two more arrests, seven of gang now behind bars

Gurugram: A special task force (STF) of Haryana Police on Monday arrested two of noted gangster Kaushal’s close aides, for their alleged involvement in the recent shoot-outs at Pushpanjali Hospital in Rewari and Om Sweets in Sector 46, demanding protection money. The duo also allegedly extorted money from a property dealer and a trader in the last two months.



The accused, identified as Saurav (25) and his brother Gaurav (26), resident of Gadoli Khurd, were arrested from Jamalpur on Pataudi road. Police recovered a two-wheeler used in their criminal acts from them. They were responsible for collecting extortion money. They were produced before court and sent to four-day police custody.

In the past four months, Gurugram police and STF have arrested seven members of Kaushal’s gang in five different operations. They include Kaushal’s brother Manish, close aide Amit Dagar, Hariom and Vikas. At its peak, the gang, which is active in Gurugram and Rewari, had around 25-30 members, most of them extortionists. Kaushal, who jumped parole in 2016, and was believed to be operating from abroad, is now believed to be somewhere in India. Cops hope these arrests will lead them to the gang leader.

DSP of STF, Kaptan Singh, said Saurav and Gaurav used to collect extortion money from targets after Kaushal made extortion calls. “They’d then hand it over to Kaushal’s parents, who managed the collections,” said Singh, adding cops are hoping to extract more details about the gang’s members and operations while they hold the two in custody.

STF Gurugram in-charge inspector Sunil Kumar said the accused had collected Rs 10 lakh from a property dealer in Kadipur on November 18 and Rs 2 lakh from a trader in Sector 10A on September 24. “None of the cases were reported, as victims feared for their lives,” said Sunil.

Preliminary interrogation revealed the brothers were also involved in the shootings at Pushpanjali Hospital in Rewari and Om Sweets in Sector 46, Gurugram. Both incidents took place on the same day — October 16 — but involved different teams. “They used to make extensive plans before executing a crime. First, Kaushal would make calls to a target. If an extortion amount was agreed upon, the brothers would go and collect it. In case they refused to pay up, Kaushal would organise a shooting to instil fear,” said Sunil.

Kaushal’s father Nand Kishor handled the extortion money. Both parents are accused as co-conspirators in the case of gangster Jonny’s murder in 2016, in which Kaushal is prime accused. “They (Kaushal’s parents) were in jail for 6-7 months and were released on bail recently,” said Sunil, adding Kaushal’s wife Roshni — who is an accused in some criminal cases — is on the run.

Since then, Kaushal (37) has been living with Gaurav and Saurav’s sister Manisha (28), who is a close friend since his school days, but married to Kaushal’s brother Manish, who has two wives — Geeta and Ritu — from prior marriages. According to STF, Manisha works closely with Kaushal to operate the gang, especially as a conduit between Kaushal and his gang members.