The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a key operative allegedly linked to an ISI-backed transnational arms trafficking and terror module, officials said on Sunday, 10 May. The accused, identified as Praveen Kumar alias Tittu, 45, a resident of Khirki Extension, Malviya Nagar in south Delhi, was apprehended with an Italian-made semi-automatic pistol and five live cartridges in his possession.

How the Arrest Was Made

According to Delhi Police, Kumar was arrested by a team of the Anti-Robbery and Snatching Cell (ARSC) of the Crime Branch, led by Inspectors Man Singh and Sunder Gautam under the supervision of ACP Sanjay Kumar Nagpal. The arrest was made in connection with FIR No. 49/26, registered at the Crime Branch police station on 14 March, under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The Wider Terror-Arms Network

Investigators allege that Kumar acted as a receiver and facilitator of illegal foreign-made sophisticated weapons, reportedly supplied through an international arms trafficking and terror network operated by Shahbaz Ansari. Police claim the entire network was backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and stringent provisions of the UAPA have already been invoked in the case.

According to police, 14 accused persons have been arrested so far in this case, with 25 sophisticated foreign-made weapons — including a sub-machine gun — along with 221 live cartridges recovered to date. This marks a significant escalation in the scope of the probe, which has been ongoing since March.

Kumar's Criminal Background and Gang Links

Kumar is described by police as a close associate of notorious south Delhi gangster Rohit Chaudhary, who carried a reward of ₹4 lakh before being arrested by the Crime Branch following a police encounter. Kumar himself previously carried a reward of ₹2 lakh on his arrest. He currently worked as a property dealer in Aya Nagar and was allegedly involved in illegally occupying disputed properties, encroaching on abandoned and forest land, and carrying out illegal plotting activities in association with Chaudhary's gang.

According to investigators, Kumar came in contact with co-accused Nishant Arora during his incarceration. After securing bail, he allegedly began procuring sophisticated foreign-made weapons for gang members to create fear and terror in the Aya Nagar-Mehrauli region. Officials also alleged that Kumar invested proceeds from illegal activities in gambling and betting operations.

Chaudhary Gang's Organised Crime Trail

Police described Chaudhary as a notorious criminal involved in multiple cases of murder, extortion, organised crime, and illegal possession of weapons. His gang allegedly operated across Aya Nagar, Pushp Vihar, and Ambedkar Nagar, targeting rivals and extorting money from builders, property dealers, and bookies. Delhi Police had earlier booked Chaudhary under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Kumar's own criminal record spans cases in both Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, including charges of attempt to murder, kidnapping for ransom, murder, extortion, rioting, and Arms Act violations. With the UAPA now invoked and the arrest count rising, investigators are expected to pursue further leads in the transnational network.