A 30-year-old notorious criminal, who was involved in more than 50 cases of cattle theft, vehicle theft, firing in public place and assaults on ‘intercepting police teams’, was arrested by the sleuths of Special Cell of Delhi Police on Monday. The Delhi Police had also declared Rs 1 lakh reward on the arrest of the accused.

The accused has been identified as Munnu Khan, a resident of village Aali Meo in district Palwal of Haryana who had joined Mewati gang in order to earn quick money.

According to Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Special Cell, a tip off was received that the wanted criminal, Munnu Khan, would be passing through Dwarka on March 21, following which a trap was laid and the accused was signaled to stop the car he was traveling.

“The accused tried to flee the spot by leaving the vehicle behind and started running on the road. On warning to stop and surrender, accused took out one pistol and tried to fire at the Police team but proactive team members overpowered him after the chase of 300 meters and snatched his loaded country made pistol and accused was grounded and was apprehended by the police team. One country made pistol loaded with two live cartridges has been recovered by police from the accused on the spot,” said the DCP.

“During interrogation the accused revealed that he was in need of money due to his addiction for alcohol and since he got married he needed more money hence he started working for Mewati gang. He became notorious desperate auto lifter and cattle thief,” said the DCP.

“Accused further revealed that his gang mostly uses stolen Tata 407 and Mahindra Pickup vehicles in the crime as they can be filled with heavy iron girders and bumpers to damage intercepting police vehicles, especially PCR vans. They also increase the pumping of fuel into the truck’s carburetor to derive maximum speed.