This story is from February 14, 2019

Lens on cops after gangster ‘jumps’ to death during raid

Lens on cops after gangster ‘jumps’ to death during raid
NEW DELHI: The special operations squad of Delhi Police Crime Branch is embroiled in a controversy, after a criminal died in suspicious circumstances during a raid early on Tuesday.
The team, led by additional DCP Joy Tirkey, had gone to Panipat to arrest one Mahesh Thekedar, who allegedly carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh. The cops arrested three people, but the fourth, later identified as Thekedar, mysteriously ‘fell down’ from the balcony of the first floor.

Cops have argued that Thekedar was trying to escape and fell on his own, and have refuted reports that he was pushed. However, a probe is underway to ascertain the facts, sources said. It is also being probed if the local police was informed and taken along on the raid.
In a statement, Delhi Police said that the gang was involved in two high-profile cases reported in 2006 and 2016. In 2006, Thekedar, Sonu Dariyapur and others killed an associate of Monu Dariyapur in Punjabi Bagh, as Monu had married Sonu’s cousin. Monu was bumped off by Sonu and others in 2017.
In 2016, Thekedar and others kidnapped a businessman’s son, who was on his way to college in his BMW car, from northwest Delhi’s Subhash Place. A ransom of Rs 50 crore was demanded for his release. The boy was released after a payment of Rs 1 crore. Cops said Thekedar and another criminal, Manjeet Dabas, masterminded the kidnap.
Explaining the operation, additional commissioner Rajiv Ranjan said that constable Rambir had received information about a criminal who had jumped parole, after which a team led by additional DCP Tirkey was formed to investigate.

The team arrested a murder convict, Deepak, who had jumped parole. He led the cops to Thekedar’s hideout in Samalakha, Panipat. While the cops arrested two men named Surender and Vijay from the house located in Punjabi Mohalla, Thekedar was found in a pool of blood on the ground. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Deepak and Surender are cousins of jailed gangster Sonu Dariyapur. Cops recovered a pistol and five bullets from the car belonging to the gang.
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