Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, May 24: The Mumbai Crime Branch’s Anti-Extortion Cell has arrested three men from Punjab for allegedly attempting to sell illegal foreign-made firearms and live ammunition in the city. Investigators are also examining whether the accused have links to the gang of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
The accused have been identified as Sukhvindar Chandrapal (24), Jasanpreet Mangal Singh (24) and Arbaz Chaudhary (34). According to police, Chandrapal and Singh are wanted in connection with a 2022 murder case in Patiala, while Chaudhary reportedly faces 19 criminal cases across multiple offences.
Acting on a tip-off that a group was planning to sell illegal weapons without licences, a police team laid a trap near St George Hospital in the Fort area on Friday.
During the operation, officers allegedly recovered three China-made pistols, magazines and 45 live cartridges from the accused. Police officials said each pistol is estimated to be worth around Rs 3 lakh, while the cartridges were valued at nearly Rs 100 each.
Following the seizure, a case under the Arms Act was initially registered at MRA Marg Police Station before being transferred to the Crime Branch’s Anti-Extortion Cell for further investigation.
Officials said the possibility of a connection with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is being examined, particularly because several gang operatives arrested in Mumbai over the last two years have reportedly originated from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Chandrapal and Singh were allegedly involved in a Patiala murder case in which a young man was stabbed to death by multiple attackers. While several accused were arrested earlier, the two had reportedly been absconding since then.
Police further stated that Chaudhary has an extensive criminal background, with cases related to attempted murder, extortion, kidnapping, rioting, assault and criminal intimidation registered against him.
The Mumbai Crime Branch is expected to inform Punjab Police about the arrests as the investigation continues.