HC seeks home secretary’s report on gangster activities in Gurugram, Faridabad

The court was dealing with bail pleas of three- Kuldeep Tyagi, Aman alias Aman Bhatti and Akash Bhatti, implicated in a criminal case registered on January 22, 2025 in firearms recovery case

The Punjab and Haryana high court has sought an affidavit from additional chief secretary, home, Haryana on gangster related crimes in western Haryana, especially in Gurugram, Faridabad and Palwal.

It was further informed that these accused are functioning as sleeper cells of the gang and facilitating the procurement, concealment and supply of illegal firearms and forged identity documents. (HT File)

“..this court deems it appropriate to take note of the disturbing trend emerging in certain districts of the state of Haryana, particularly Palwal, Faridabad and Gurugram, where organised criminal gangs and their sleeper cells are alleged to be operating with increasing frequency. Such activities have serious ramifications for the maintenance of public order and the safety and security of citizens,” the bench of justice Sanjay Vashisth observed while seeking a report by August 28.

The court was dealing with bail pleas of three- Kuldeep Tyagi, Aman alias Aman Bhatti and Akash Bhatti, implicated in a criminal case registered on January 22, 2025 in firearms recovery case.

During the hearing the police had told the court that it is not an isolated incident involving mere recovery of illegal firearms, but forms part of the activities of an organised criminal syndicate operating in Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

The prosecution told the court that the syndicate, which operates under the leadership of Kaushal Chaudhary and Himanshu alias Bhau, who are presently residing abroad, has been orchestrating incidents of murder, attempted murder and extortion through its network of local associates. The border districts of western Haryana, particularly Palwal, Faridabad and parts of Gurugram, have witnessed a significant rise in such organised criminal activities during the past few years, the court was told.

It was further informed that these accused are functioning as sleeper cells of the gang and facilitating the procurement, concealment and supply of illegal firearms and forged identity documents.

It was further informed that Kuldeep Tyagi is involved in 17 other criminal cases, Aman Bhati in five other cases and Akash Bhati in two cases, which shows their continued involvement in criminal activities.

The court granted them bail observing that the investigation stands concluded and the final report has already been presented before the court but asked additional chief secretary (home), Haryana to file an affidavit apprising the court of the policy framework and institutional measures put in place to effectively deal with organised criminal gangs, their sleeper cells and other similarly placed criminal networks. “The affidavit shall, inter alia, indicate the preventive, investigative and intelligence-based mechanisms adopted by the state, the inter-agency coordination in place, and the specific measures undertaken to maintain law and order and curb organised criminal activities in the districts of Palwal, Faridabad and Gurugram,” it said.