Nandu gang operative held at Delhi airport

New Delhi: A key member of the Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang, who was absconding abroad for nearly two years and declared a proclaimed offender in multiple criminal cases, was arrested at the Delhi airport, police said on Monday.

Manoj Rathee, 33, a resident of Haryana, was wanted in a 2021 murder case registered at Najafgarh Police Station and in two Arms Act cases registered at Baba Haridas Nagar and the Special Cell.

He had been declared a proclaimed offender by a city court. Rathee was intercepted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on January 9 on the basis of a Look Out Circular (LOC) and subsequently arrested, they said.

According to a senior officer, the Arms Act case against Rathee dates back to February 4, 2024, when two weapon suppliers -- Ankit Mishra and Jitendra Rajput of Madhya Pradesh -- were arrested by the Special Cell with 12 illegal pistols. “During interrogation, the duo disclosed that the consignment was meant for Manoj Rathee and his associates in Delhi,” said the officer.

Subsequent investigation revealed that Rathee fled the country soon after the arrest of the suppliers. An open-dated non-bailable warrant was issued against him on March 5, 2024, by a city court, following which an LOC was opened.