Delhi Police arrests habitual offender in Sunder Nagri, seizes illegal pistol and knife
Synopsis
A routine patrol in Sunder Nagri led Delhi Police to a 23-year-old with five prior criminal cases — and an illegal semi-automatic pistol, live rounds, and a dragon knife on his person. The arrest is part of a wider simultaneous crackdown on habitual offenders across eastern Delhi police stations.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police arrested Shahnawaz alias Shanu , 23 , from Sunder Nagri on 7 August 2026 .
Recovered items include one country-made semi-automatic pistol , four live cartridges , and a dragon knife .
The accused has five prior criminal cases involving attempt to murder, robbery, snatching, and theft.
434/2026 registered under Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act at PS Nand Nagri.
Separately, PS Harsh Vihar solved four cases — one robbery and three snatching incidents — arresting two more habitual offenders.
Delhi Police arrested a 23-year-old habitual offender in the Sunder Nagri area of New Delhi on 7 August 2026, recovering an illegal country-made semi-automatic pistol, four live cartridges, and a dragon knife from his possession, officials confirmed on Saturday.
How the Arrest Unfolded
A patrol team from Nand Nagri Police Station — comprising ASI Pramod, ASI Anil, HC Deepak, and Constable Parveen — was conducting routine patrolling in the Sunder Nagri area at around 6:50 pm when they received a tip-off about a suspicious individual carrying illegal arms near H-Block, Sulabh Shauchalaya, Jhuggi Sunder Nagri.
Upon reaching the spot, the team noticed the suspect attempting to flee. The accused was chased down and apprehended. A subsequent search of his person yielded the pistol, live ammunition, and the knife.
Who Is the Accused
The arrested individual has been identified as Shahnawaz alias Shanu, a resident of Sunder Nagri. According to police, he is a habitual offender with five prior criminal cases to his name, involving attempt to murder, robbery, snatching, and theft.
During interrogation, Shahnawaz reportedly admitted to the offence and disclosed the source of the recovered arms, which is currently under investigation. A case has been registered as FIR No. 434/2026 under Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act at PS Nand Nagri.
Parallel Action Against Habitual Offenders
This arrest is part of a broader crackdown by Delhi Police on repeat offenders in the capital. Separately, a team from Police Station Harsh Vihar recently resolved four criminal cases — one robbery and three snatching incidents — with the arrest of two habitual offenders, including a designated bad character of the area and an externee. The motorcycle allegedly used in those crimes was also recovered.
That action followed a complaint by Rinku Kumari, on the basis of which FIR No. 240/2026 was registered at PS Harsh Vihar under Sections 309(4), 309(6), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
What Comes Next
Investigation into the Sunder Nagri case is ongoing, with police probing the supply chain behind the recovered illegal firearm. The simultaneous targeting of habitual offenders across multiple police stations signals a coordinated effort by Delhi Police to reduce recidivist crime in the capital's eastern zones.
Point of View
But unless the arms supply chain is dismantled, such recoveries risk being tactical wins without strategic impact. The source of the pistol, now under investigation, is the more consequential thread here.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by Delhi Police in the Sunder Nagri arms case?
The arrested individual is Shahnawaz alias Shanu , a 23-year-old resident of Sunder Nagri, New Delhi. He was apprehended on 7 August 2026 by a patrol team from Nand Nagri Police Station.
What was recovered from the accused?
Police recovered one country-made semi-automatic pistol, four live cartridges, and a dragon knife from Shahnawaz's possession. An FIR has been registered under the Arms Act.
What is Shahnawaz's criminal history?
According to police, Shahnawaz is a habitual offender with five prior criminal cases, including attempt to murder, robbery, snatching, and theft.
What FIR has been registered in the case?
FIR No. 434/2026 has been registered under Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act at Police Station Nand Nagri. Investigation into the source of the recovered arms is ongoing.
What other action did Delhi Police take around the same time?
A team from Police Station Harsh Vihar solved four criminal cases — one robbery and three snatching incidents — by arresting two habitual offenders. The motorcycle allegedly used in those crimes was also recovered, following a complaint by Rinku Kumari under FIR No. 240/2026.
