Cops hunt for 80-year-old leader of auto thieves

He has been at it for the past three decades or so. At 80 years of age, he could easily be the granddad of all auto-lifters and cheats.

He has been at it for the past three decades or so. At 80 years of age, he could easily be the granddad of all auto-lifters and cheats.

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And, in some ways, he is.

Currently on the run from the Delhi police, Dhani Ram Mittal has 96 cases registered cases against him.

According to the northwest Delhi police, who nabbed two of Mittal’s accomplices, he is an old hand and has been involved in everything starting from cheating to auto-lifting in the past three decades.

Anti-auto theft squad of the northwest Delhi police busted a gang of auto-lifters and recovered eight stolen vehicles.

With the arrests, several auto theft cases in Delhi and Haryana have been solved.

The police said that Mittal, the alleged gang leader, is still active in criminal activities and oversees all operations.

“He is a cheat as well. He has registered his address as 165, Patiala House court. We have been looking for him for quite some time. With the arrest of his accomplices, we are sure that we will be able to nab him soon,” said a senior police officer, who did not wish to be named.

“His son, who also worked for him, died a few years ago. After that Mittal came in contact with a man, Sanjay, who became his foster son,” added the officer.