The Delhi Police Special Cell on Thursday arrested Mahfooz alias “Bobby Kabootar,” a key operative of the Lawrence Bishnoi–Hashim Baba gang, who had been evading arrest for nearly seven years. His long-time associate, Khushnuma Ansari alias Neha, was also taken into custody.
Police said Ansari allegedly played a crucial role in helping Bobby remain underground. She is believed to have assisted in arranging hideouts and maintaining communication between him and other gang members during his time on the run.
Arrest in Mahipalpur
Acting on specific intelligence, police laid a trap in Delhi’s Mahipalpur area and intercepted Kabootar’s vehicle around midnight. Firearms were recovered from the occupants, and cases were registered under relevant sections of the Arms Act. Two additional associates were also arrested during the operation.
Links to High-Profile Cases
Mahfooz is wanted in several high-profile cases, including the 2022 killing of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala. Investigators allege that he conducted reconnaissance in the case.
He is also accused of supplying foreign-made weapons to shooters involved in firing outside actor Disha Patani’s residence and is suspected of involvement in two recent murder cases in Delhi.
Police officials described the arrest as a major breakthrough in their ongoing crackdown on the gang. They also noted what they termed a strategic shift within the network, citing the increasing involvement of women in operational roles.
Further investigation is currently underway.
