Delhi Police busts Kapil Sangwan gang: 5 arrested in Chhawla firing-extortion plot
Synopsis
Delhi Police's Special Cell cracked an active extortion-linked firing plot before a single shot was fired — arresting three Punjab-based sharpshooters and two Haryana arms suppliers tied to jailed gangster Kapil Sangwan. The operation exposes how incarcerated gang leaders continue to direct street-level violence in the capital through cross-state recruitment networks.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police Special Cell arrested five individuals — three sharpshooters and two arms suppliers — linked to the Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang on 24 May .
The group had allegedly been tasked to open fire at a clinic in Chhawla, southwest Delhi as part of an extortion bid.
Police recovered three semi-automatic pistols , four live cartridges , and three mobile phones from the accused.
The first arrest — Abhishek of Amritsar — was made on 20 March ; four more suspects were subsequently nabbed from Amritsar and Kaithal, Haryana .
The accused had reportedly conducted reconnaissance near the target location in February but aborted the plan due to crowd presence.
Investigation is ongoing to identify other network members and trace the gang's broader extortion support structure.
Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested five individuals — three alleged sharpshooters and two suspected arms suppliers — linked to the Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang, foiling a planned firing at a clinic in the Chhawla area of southwest Delhi that was allegedly aimed at extortion. The arrests, confirmed by officials on Sunday, 24 May, followed over a month of sustained surveillance and technical intelligence gathering.
The Planned Attack
According to the Special Cell, jailed gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu, had allegedly tasked the recruits with opening fire at a prominent clinic in Chhawla as part of an extortion bid. The accused had reportedly travelled to Delhi in February and conducted reconnaissance near the target location. The plan was allegedly put on hold after the shooters found a heavy crowd presence near the clinic.
Who Was Arrested
The first arrest was made on 20 March, when Abhishek, a resident of Amritsar, was detained. His alleged disclosure during questioning led investigators to four more suspects. Sahil and Harshdeep alias Polu, both from Amritsar, were arrested as the other sharpshooters. Karan alias Ankush and Aman, both from Kaithal district in Haryana, were nabbed as the alleged arms and logistics arrangers for the group.
Weapons and Evidence Recovered
Police recovered three semi-automatic pistols, four live cartridges, and three mobile phones from the accused. The mobile phones were allegedly used to maintain contact with Sangwan, who is currently in jail. Weapons, ammunition, and a motorcycle had reportedly been arranged through gang associates based in Haryana. Several of the accused had prior criminal cases registered against them in Punjab and Haryana.
Broader Crackdown on Organised Crime
Officials said the operation was part of an ongoing effort to dismantle organised crime and extortion syndicates active across the Delhi-NCR region. The arrests have, according to police, dealt a significant blow to the extortion racket run by the Nandu gang and yielded intelligence on the gang's operating structure — including how it allegedly coordinates criminal activities while evading law enforcement. This comes amid a wider pattern of jailed gangsters in India reportedly directing criminal operations from behind bars using mobile phones and encrypted communication.
What Investigators Are Pursuing
Further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the network and map the broader ecosystem allegedly supporting the gang's extortion activities. Interrogation of the five arrested individuals has already provided investigators with operational details about the gang's recruitment and logistics chain. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether charges have been formally filed against any of the accused.
Point of View
With mobile phones as the command line. The Nandu gang's ability to recruit Punjab-based shooters, source weapons through Haryana intermediaries, and conduct advance reconnaissance in Delhi — all while Sangwan remains incarcerated — points to systemic gaps in prison communication controls. Delhi Police's month-long surveillance before acting, rather than rushing an arrest, is tactically sound. But the deeper question is structural: how many such plots are in motion at any given time, and whether intelligence-sharing between Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi Police is fast enough to stay ahead of networks that operate precisely across those jurisdictional seams.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu?
Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu, is a jailed gangster who allegedly runs an extortion and organised crime network from behind bars, with operatives reportedly active across Delhi-NCR, Punjab, and Haryana.
What was the Chhawla clinic firing plot?
According to Delhi Police, Sangwan had allegedly directed his recruits to open fire at a clinic in the Chhawla area of southwest Delhi as part of an extortion bid. The accused conducted reconnaissance in February but reportedly called off the attack due to a heavy crowd near the target.
Who are the five people arrested in this case?
The arrested individuals are Abhishek (Amritsar), Sahil (Amritsar), and Harshdeep alias Polu (Amritsar) — the alleged sharpshooters — and Karan alias Ankush and Aman, both from Kaithal district in Haryana, who allegedly arranged weapons and logistics.
What weapons were recovered from the accused?
Police recovered three semi-automatic pistols, four live cartridges, and three mobile phones from the accused. The phones were allegedly used to communicate with jailed gangster Kapil Sangwan.
What happens next in the investigation?
Further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the gang's network and trace the broader ecosystem supporting its extortion activities. Interrogation of the five arrested suspects has already yielded details about the gang's operational structure.
