The Surat Crime Branch on Wednesday, 20 May arrested a wanted criminal carrying a police reward of ₹1.5 lakh, in connection with multiple cases of extortion, attempted murder, and Arms Act violations registered across Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. The accused, identified as Anand Singh alias Sholay Singh alias Sachin Singh, 26, was apprehended near the Biodiversity Park gate in the Khatodara area of Surat.

The Arrest and Recovery

The operation was carried out by the Anti-Organised Squad of the Surat Crime Branch, acting on specific intelligence inputs about the accused's movement in the area. At the time of arrest, police recovered two country-made pistols and six live cartridges from his possession.

According to officials, the accused hails from Lakhauwa village in Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh, and had been residing in Palsana in Surat district. His prior work experience in Surat — in tailoring and security jobs — reportedly gave him familiarity with the city's geography, enabling him to evade detection while operating discreetly.

Five Criminal Cases Across UP Districts

Police confirmed that the accused is wanted in five criminal cases registered in Pratapgarh and Jaunpur districts of Uttar Pradesh under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other applicable laws.

In one case at Aaspur Devsara police station in Pratapgarh, the accused and his associates allegedly visited a complainant's residence during a gang rivalry dispute and fired three rounds before fleeing. In a separate incident at Badlapur police station in Jaunpur, he allegedly demanded a ransom of ₹1 crore from a school principal over a phone call and subsequently fired four rounds at the school gate when the demand was not met.

In another case from the same area, he allegedly demanded ₹50 lakh from a medical practitioner in Baksha; when refused, he and his aides allegedly opened fire, injuring the victim's leg. A fourth incident involved renewed threats and two gunshots targeting the same school principal. In a fifth case at Baksa police station, he allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh from a bank manager, threatening to kill him if the demand was not met.

The 'Sholay Gang' and Criminal Background

During interrogation, investigators said the accused had been working to establish himself as a dominant criminal figure in Jaunpur district. He allegedly formed a group known as the 'Sholay gang' by recruiting other criminals, targeting traders and professionals across Jaunpur, Pratapgarh, Baksha, and Badlapur — with extortion demands reportedly running into crores of rupees.

Police noted that the accused used a calculated operational strategy: issuing threats over phone calls, frequently changing SIM cards, and operating from locations 50 to 100 km away from his residence. He also allegedly circulated videos of firing incidents to spread fear among victims and the wider public.

His criminal record stretches back to 2018, when he was convicted in a murder case in Jaunpur linked to a land dispute and served a four-year prison sentence. His record further includes Arms Act violations and cases under preventive provisions related to anti-social activities.

What Happens Next

Authorities confirmed that further investigation is underway to establish whether the accused committed any offences or issued threats to traders or individuals within Surat city. The arrest, officials said, is part of ongoing efforts to curb organised criminal activity and illegal firearms possession in the region. Legal proceedings are in progress.