Delhi Police nab two Maya gang-linked snatchers, crack 11 cases
Synopsis
Delhi Police caught two alleged habitual criminals — including a Maya gang member wanted under MCOCA — after a midnight motorcycle chase in South-East Delhi. With 11 cases cracked and stolen goods recovered, the arrests expose a recurring organised street-crime network operating across multiple police station jurisdictions.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police arrested Sumit Beniwal and Md.
Umar Ansari , both aged 23 , near Peepal Chowk, Madanpur Khadar on 25 October 2026 .
Umar Ansari is an alleged member of the Maya gang and is wanted in an MCOCA case registered in May 2026 .
Recoveries include an illegal button-operated knife, stolen mobile phones, and a stolen motorcycle.
Ansari has been linked to 11 criminal cases ; Beniwal to 18 criminal cases including Arms Act offences.
The operation helped work out 11 cases across Amar Colony , New Friends Colony , and Kalkaji police stations.
Delhi Police on Tuesday announced the arrest of two habitual snatchers and burglars in South-East Delhi, including an alleged member of the notorious Maya gang wanted under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The operation, carried out by a team from Kalindi Kunj Police Station, led to the recovery of an illegal button-operated knife, stolen mobile phones, and a stolen motorcycle — and helped detectives work out 11 criminal cases across multiple police stations.
How the Arrests Unfolded
The two accused were caught late on 25 October when Constables Ajharuddin and Devender were conducting routine area patrolling around 9 pm near Peepal Chowk on Pushta Road in JJ Colony, Madanpur Khadar. The officers noticed two men riding a motorcycle in a suspicious manner. When signalled to stop, the duo allegedly attempted to flee, lost control of the vehicle, and fell on the road, at which point the constables overpowered and detained them.
A personal search of one accused, identified as Sumit Beniwal, 23, yielded an illegal button-operated knife. A mobile phone recovered from the other accused, Md. Umar Ansari, 23, was cross-checked through the ZIPNET system and found linked to an e-FIR registered at Amar Colony Police Station on 25 October. The motorcycle was subsequently confirmed to have been stolen from the jurisdiction of New Friends Colony Police Station.
Who the Accused Are
According to officials, Md. Umar Ansari is listed as a Bad Character (BC) of Amar Colony Police Station and is an alleged member of the Maya gang. He is reportedly wanted in an MCOCA case registered at Amar Colony Police Station in May 2026 and has been linked to 11 criminal cases involving theft, snatching, and burglary.
Sumit Beniwal, also 23, is described by police as an alleged habitual burglar and snatcher. Originally a BC of Amar Colony Police Station, his record was later transferred to Sunlight Colony Police Station following a change of residence. He has reportedly been connected to 18 criminal cases, including theft, burglary, and offences under the Arms Act.
Cases Worked Out and Legal Action
Following a complaint by Constable Ajharuddin, an FIR was registered at Kalindi Kunj Police Station on 26 October under relevant provisions of the Arms Act, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Delhi Police Act. The arrests have helped police resolve multiple cases registered at Amar Colony, New Friends Colony, and Kalkaji police stations, with a total of 11 cases detected — several of them registered in 2026.
Operation Context and Senior Oversight
Officials stated the operation was part of an intensified campaign of patrolling, picket checking, and intelligence-based action aimed at curbing street crime in South-East Delhi. The mission was conducted under the supervision of senior officers of the South-East District, including Kalindi Kunj Station House Officer Raman Kumar Singh. This comes amid broader concerns over organised street crime networks operating across Delhi, with the Maya gang having a documented presence in multiple jurisdictions.
Point of View
In theory, have kept him on a watch list — yet the arrest was circumstantial, triggered by a routine patrol rather than targeted intelligence. With 18 prior cases against Beniwal and 11 against Ansari, both men represent a pattern of serial offending that periodic arrests alone will not break. The real accountability question is whether South-East District's 'intensified patrolling' framework is backed by a recidivism-tracking mechanism, or whether it remains a reactive response dressed up as a proactive one.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two accused arrested by Delhi Police in the Madanpur Khadar operation?
The two accused are Sumit Beniwal and Md. Umar Ansari , both aged 23 . Ansari is an alleged member of the Maya gang wanted under MCOCA, while Beniwal is described by police as a habitual burglar and snatcher with 18 prior cases.
What is the Maya gang and why is it significant in this case?
The Maya gang is described by police as a notorious organised crime network, significant enough to attract prosecution under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Ansari's alleged membership and a pending MCOCA warrant registered in May 2026 indicate the gang's activities span multiple states.
What items were recovered from the accused?
Police recovered an illegal button-operated knife from Sumit Beniwal, stolen mobile phones from both accused, and a motorcycle that was confirmed stolen from the jurisdiction of New Friends Colony Police Station.
How many criminal cases were resolved following these arrests?
The arrests helped Delhi Police work out 11 cases in total, including cases registered in 2026, spread across Amar Colony, New Friends Colony, and Kalkaji police stations.
Under what legal provisions were the accused charged?
An FIR was registered on 26 October at Kalindi Kunj Police Station under the Arms Act, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Delhi Police Act, following a complaint by Constable Ajharuddin.
