The police busted a gang of six alleged criminals, suspected to be close aides of gangster Kaushal, who is wanted in more than 200 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion and robbery, the police said Friday.

According to the police, these gang members allegedly used to extort money from prominent businessmen, jewellers, traders, hotel owners, hospital owners across Haryana, Delhi, Noida, other parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The police said that they were also involved in robbery, dacoity and carjacking cases in four states including Haryana.

Several hundred businessmen, traders, hospital owners, jewellers and sweet shop owners pay protection money to the gang members, the police said.

A police team, headed by Bijender Hooda, inspector, crime unit of Palam Vihar, arrested Ranbir Saini, the alleged leader, early Thursday from Dehradun in Uttarakhand.

The police had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to his arrest and the Delhi Police had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for the same.

The police said he was wanted in at least four dozen cases in Gurugram, including the murder of 40-year-old Vijay Batra, alias Tantrik, who was shot dead outside a condominium on Sohna Road on February 22.

Akil said Saini was also involved in the murder of a 45-year-old history-sheeter, JD, who was shot dead on January 23 in Shivaji Nagar.

Saini was arrested along with his associate Ashu, alias Hooka, Sumit, alias Babbua, and Gaurav, alias Chintu, from a rented accommodation in Dehradun. “They had been on the run since 2016. They operated from different places as they knew that police teams were tracking their locations and keeping a watch on their operations,” Muhammad Akil, commissioner of police, said.

The police had formed 12 teams comprising 50 police personnel and cybercrime teams. Akil said the four men were arrested without firing a single gunshot. The teams were spread out in many areas based on technical and human intelligence.

“Saini operated from Gurugram and was constantly in touch with Kaushal, who was updated on each movement of the gang members,” added Akil.

Kaushal, the kingpin, is on the run and is believed to be in Thailand, the police said. The gang has been active in Gurugram for over a decade and threatens wealthy people for protection money. The police have found a list of businessmen from Gurugram and nearby areas whom they had zeroed in on for extortion.

“Their accomplices, carrying weapons, used to meet them near the bus stand. After executing their extortion plans, they would hand over the weapons to their aides and return to their hideout location. Saini used to update Kaushal on a daily basis through WhatsApp calls and messages,” said Hooda.

Another team arrested their close aides Sushil, alias Malinga, and Satish, alias Pavva, of Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh from IMT Manesar on Thursday.

First Published: Apr 26, 2019 23:49 IST