A gangster who fled the country using a fake passport and attempted to expand his criminal network abroad with the support of foreign-based gangster Goldy Dhillon has been arrested following his deportation from Bangkok, a Delhi Police official said on Saturday.
Harsimran, also known as Badal or Simran, a resident of East Shalimar Bagh, was deported to Delhi on Wednesday after coordinated efforts by Indian central agencies and Thai authorities, police said.
Investigators said Harsimran had procured a passport under the fictitious identity of Rajesh Singh from Gorakhpur and travelled to Bangkok in January this year with the assistance of Europe-based gangster Goldy Dhillon.
He later travelled to Dubai and attempted to reach the US and Europe with the help of human traffickers and Dhillon’s associates, a senior officer said in a statement.
The officer added, “His attempts to enter Europe via Azerbaijan, and later through the Belarus–Latvia–Poland route, failed after he was detained and deported.”
According to officials, Harsimran returned to Bangkok to extend his visa but was detained there after Indian agencies shared specific intelligence. The Ministry of External Affairs subsequently revoked the passport he had obtained using forged documents, paving the way for his deportation.
Police said Harsimran was taken into custody upon his arrival at Delhi airport. He has been arrested in connection with an FIR registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.
Harsimran has an extensive criminal history and is named in 23 cases, including extortion, murder, attempt to murder, and violations of the Arms Act. He is listed as a ‘Bad Character’ at the Shalimar Bagh police station and has previously been convicted in two cases, the officer said.
After fleeing India, the accused allegedly threatened a key witness in one of the cases against him, pressuring the witness to turn hostile and demanding ₹50 lakh.
Based on this complaint, a fresh FIR was registered against him at the Mukherjee Nagar police station earlier this year, the officer added.
Following his release on bail, Harsimran failed to appear for court hearings in at least 14 cases.
Police said Harsimran began his career as a wrestler in Delhi and Maharashtra but became involved in crime after coming into contact with gangsters active in Burari, Sagarpur, and northwest Delhi.
He later aligned himself with members of Dhillon’s gang and allegedly planned to expand his operations internationally from the US and Europe.
The arrest of Mahender Singh, an accused in a 2010 murder case, led investigators to Harsimran. During interrogation, Singh disclosed that the arms and ammunition recovered from him had been supplied by Harsimran.
A Lookout Circular was issued, and central agencies worked with Delhi Police to track him down. “Harsimran is currently being interrogated,” the officer said.