Criminal takes cops shopping, escapes in a waiting sedan

A 'dreaded' criminal wanted in three northern states gave Punjab Police team a slip and fled in a waiting sedan as the cops browsed through a collection of casuals on sale at a store in north Delhi on Monday. Jatin Anand reports.

A 'dreaded' criminal wanted in three northern states offered to let a Punjab Police team buy fancy apparel at his expense, coaxed them into taking off his handcuffs and fled in a waiting sedan as the cops browsed through a collection of casuals on sale at a store in north Delhi on Monday.

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Paras alias Goldy, was brought to a Delhi court from Faridkot jail by a four-member team of the Punjab Police. "He is wanted in several criminal cases across Punjab, Haryana and Delhi and was to be produced at the Rohini district courts on Monday," said a Delhi Police officer.

As the police team flipped through the clothes at a Reebok store in Shastri Nagar, Paras asked for permission to step outside for a drink of water from a roadside vendor.

But instead of stopping for a drink, the criminal jumped into a white Maruti SX4 that screeched to a halt near him and fled.