Deplaned after a ruckus by Deepak Boxer, Delhi cops finally return with prize catch

It almost appeared the job was done to perfection. One of Delhi's most-wanted gangsters Deepak Pahal alias Boxer, a fugitive who had been traced to Mexico, was finally in custody of Delhi Police. The team of cops, with a stocky Boxer in tow, boarded an aircraft at Mexico's Cancun airport. Within a day, they were scheduled to touch down in Delhi.

However, Boxer kicked up a ruckus and the crew deplaned the entire team, citing rules about accompanying a fugitive onboard. Suddenly, the operation looked far from over. The cops and Indian security agencies spent the next 72 hours grappling with challenges - thankfully, they were aided by FBI - that culminated in the cops managing to board another flight out of Mexico with Boxer in handcuffs.
Boxer, who leads the infamous Gogi gang, finally landed in Delhi at 5am on Wednesday after a pitstop in Istanbul and was promptly arrested by the special cell at the IGI Airport.
How cops were ready for Boxer crossing into US from Mexico
Boxer was taken on an eight-day remand for interrogation, special commissioner, HGS Dhaliwal confirmed.
Securing his custody and extracting him from Mexico was a Herculean task, officials privy to the operation said. It was in early March that a meeting was held with FBI agents at the Delhi Police headquarters and intel on fugitives was exchanged from both sides. This happened in tandem with the special cell tracking Boxer in Mexico. Cosp subsequently sought help from FBI in nabbing Boxer on priority as his location was confirmed.
As the operation kicked off, cops registered a fresh FIR on March 16and a non bailable warrant was issued by a court here on March 23.A look out notice was issued and Green and Blue Notices were issued by CBI for Interpol's intervention. As cops started coordinating with their foreign counterparts, a 12-hour time difference was became the biggest challenge.
It was then decided that a two-member would be sent to Mexico for handling on-ground operations and logistics. The time was also running out for cops beca if Boxer would have managed to cross to USA -- where he was destined to go -- getting hands on him would have been extremely difficult.
In consultation with intelligence agency and the ministry of Home affairs, special CP Dhaliwal got sanction for two inspector level officers - Gagan Bhaskar and Manish Yadav - to goto Mexico.
"Their official passports were issued by the ministry of external affairs. As Mexico had a Visa Waiver agreement with India for official passport holders, they were to get Visa on arrival," said a source.
Cops were also ready for an exigency in case Boxer managed to cross over to US in this time. "A Visa note for transit visa of USA was provided by MEA for such a scenario," the source added.
As the teams reached there and participated in the ongoing operation, Boxer was located near Cancun airport based on his mobile location on March 24. He was subsequently detained from Merida area.
However, the real challenge began after this. "Boxer's team was well aware of legal remedies and was trying to get asylum for him. He wamas being helped by his associates in India, California, Canada, USA and Australia," said another source.
He was housed at the Yucatan detention centre and taken to the airport on Monday. It was decided that he would be flown to Turkey where a back-up team would be present to secure him. The cops had to be really careful as all Boxer had to do was create another ruckus and express threat to his life for the local authorities to act in Mexico or Cancun.
Another challenge was that Boxer was no ordinary criminal or a white collar suspect. He was a dangerous and a hardened criminal, who as a Boxer in his early days had taken down a national level champion within a few seconds. The teams were cautioned in this connection as well and the foreign cops accompanying him were chosen keeping this in mind. On Wednesday, special CP Dhaliwal thanked and felicitated the foreign cops for their assistance.