In a major crackdown on transnational crime, Delhi Police on Saturday arrested Harsimran, also known as Badal or Simran, a notorious gangster who fled India on a fake passport and was attempting to expand his criminal network internationally with the help of foreign-based gangster Goldy Dhillon. The arrest followed his deportation from Bangkok on November 26, a result of coordinated efforts between Indian central agencies and Thai authorities.

Harsimran, a resident of East Shalimar Bagh in Delhi, had procured a passport under the fictitious identity of Rajesh Singh from Gorakhpur. Investigators revealed that he traveled to Bangkok in January of this year, facilitated by Goldy Dhillon, who is based in Europe. From Bangkok, Harsimran attempted to reach Dubai and eventually Europe and the United States, using human traffickers and Dhillon’s associates. However, his attempts to enter Europe via Azerbaijan and later through the Belarus-Latvia-Poland route were unsuccessful, leading to his detention and eventual deportation.

Authorities noted that Harsimran had returned to Bangkok to extend his visa when he was detained based on intelligence shared by Indian agencies. The Ministry of External Affairs revoked his passport under the forged identity, enabling Thai authorities to deport him safely to India. Upon his arrival at Delhi airport, he was immediately apprehended by police. He has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.

Harsimran’s criminal record is extensive. He is named in 23 cases, including extortion, murder, attempted murder, and violations of the Arms Act. He is recognized as a ‘bad character’ by the Shalimar Bagh police and is a convicted offender in two cases. After fleeing India, he allegedly threatened a key witness in one of his cases, demanding ₹50 lakh and coercing the witness to turn hostile. This prompted the registration of a fresh FIR at Mukherjee Nagar police station earlier this year.

Despite being released on bail in several cases, Harsimran failed to appear for court hearings in at least 14 cases, further complicating ongoing investigations. Delhi Police officials stated that he initially started as a wrestler in Delhi and Maharashtra but turned to crime after associating with local gangsters operating in Burari, Sagarpur, and northwest Delhi. Later, he aligned with Goldy Dhillon’s gang to expand operations internationally, with plans to run criminal activities from the US and Europe.

Harsimran’s arrest was significantly aided by intelligence gathered during the investigation of another accused, Mahender Singh, in a 2010 murder case. During interrogation, Singh disclosed that the arms and ammunition seized from him had been sourced from Harsimran. Following this, a Lookout Circular was issued, and Indian central agencies worked closely with Delhi Police to track his movements abroad.

Currently, Harsimran is under police interrogation to unravel his network, international links, and the full extent of his criminal operations. The arrest marks a crucial step in curbing cross-border criminal syndicates and disrupting the operations of India’s organized crime networks abroad.