A man wanted in an Rs 85 lakh armed robbery case in Shastri Park and allegedly linked to a prior murder has been arrested after a brief encounter with police in central Delhi’s IP Estate area, officials said.
The accused, Ajay alias Kaliya (34), a resident of Usmanpur, is believed to have led a gang of four to five members and was the main conspirator behind the robbery. Acting on specific intelligence received around 10 pm on March 23, police laid a trap near the Rose Garden service road on MG Road, where he was expected to meet his associates around midnight.
At about 12:22 am, Ajay arrived on a grey scooter. When police signalled him to stop, he attempted to flee but was quickly surrounded. According to officers, he abandoned his vehicle and opened fire at the police team with intent to kill, firing multiple rounds. One bullet hit an inspector’s bulletproof jacket, narrowly avoiding injury.
Police retaliated in self-defence, firing at his leg before overpowering and arresting him. He was later taken to a hospital under police supervision. An illegal pistol, live cartridges, and empty shells were recovered from his possession.
Police said Ajay is a habitual offender involved in several cases of robbery, murder, theft, and Arms Act violations across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. A fresh case has been registered, and further investigation is ongoing.