Manoj Bakkarwala, most wanted, lands in cop net

Manoj Bakkarwala, wanted in over 300 cases of vehicle theft and attempt to murder, was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on Monday morning.

Bakkarwala has a record of escaping from police custody thrice in the past and had recently given the Crime Branch a slip, when they cornered him at ITO.

"On a tip-off that Bakkarwala was headed towards South Delhi with his accomplices, a trap was laid and he was apprehended from Ghazipur Mandi flyover. After brief resistance, he was apprehended around 5 am and his Volkswagon Vento car was seized," said Arun Kampani, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell).

His two associates — Rajkumar (19) and Jaidev Singh (20) — were also apprehended from Anand Vihar bus-stand around noon, following his questioning, police said.

Police have recovered one sophisticated English pistol and eight cartridges from his possession. Bakkarwala was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on him.

Police said the Vento car was stolen by Bakkarwala from Saket area in November last year. Sources said he was waiting at the Ghazipur flyover in the car. "He was waiting for his associates who were arrested later. Considering he had driven for almost three hours at a stretch, he got out of his car for some fresh air. That was when he was apprehended," said a senior police officer.

"During interrogation, he disclosed that he had come to meet someone — later identified as the two arrested associates — and deliver the vehicle," Kampani said.

On May 8, 2009, Bakkarwala was intercepted by the Delhi Police at Sector-22, Rohini, but he escaped after he opened fire. He was again arrested, and remained in jail for nearly two years. "But again in 2011, he escaped from the custody of Haryana Police, while he was being taken back to Bhondsi Jail after attending the court in Saket," police said.

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