NEW DELHI, Nov 15: Delhi Police arrested two alleged shooters linked to a foreign-based gangster and said it foiled separate planned firing attacks on actor Amitabh Bachchan in Mumbai and a Delhi businessman. One of the accused, Deepak Singh alias Deep, was wanted in connection with the October 3 murder of Instagram influencer Mad Sandhu in Amritsar, police said.

The Special Cell arrested Vikas Thakur alias Vicky, 25, a resident of Jalandhar, and Deep, a resident of Punjab's Tarn Taran district, in separate intelligence-led operations in Delhi and Mumbai.

At a glance

  • Police said the alleged plan against Bachchan involved firing outside his Mumbai residence.
  • Vikas was arrested after travelling from Mumbai to Delhi, police said.
  • Deep was allegedly hiding in Mumbai after Sandhu's murder in Amritsar.
  • A case was registered under the Arms Act at the Special Cell police station.

What happened

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Narra Chaitanya said Vikas had travelled to Delhi from Mumbai on the instructions of the foreign-based gangster to carry out an extortion-related shooting at a businessman. Deep was expected to join him later, but the Special Cell intercepted Vikas before the alleged attack could be carried out.

After Vikas's arrest, police tracked Deep to Mumbai. Investigators alleged that Deep had been staying there after Sandhu's killing and was told to extend his stay to carry out a separate firing attack outside Bachchan's residence.

Police said the two accused were linked to the same gangster based abroad. They alleged that Vikas was also assigned the task of targeting the actor before he was asked to target the Delhi businessman.

The Special Cell registered FIR No. 261/2026 under Section 25 of the Arms Act on November 3 following Vikas's arrest. Police did not disclose the identity of the businessman or the gangster.

Who said what

Chaitanya said the arrests had thwarted two planned attacks, including an extortion-related shooting. Police sources identified the Mumbai target as Bachchan, although the Special Cell did not name the actor in its initial statement.

Investigators alleged that the gang wanted to target Bachchan over purported remarks concerning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Bachchan has consistently denied making any such remarks.

Police alleged that Deep and his associate, Palwinder alias Kaka, carried out the attack on Sandhu on the gangster's instructions. Punjab Police arrested Palwinder, while Deep fled to Mumbai, they said.

Background

Sandhu was killed in Amritsar on October 3. Police alleged that Deep was involved in the attack along with Palwinder, who is in Punjab Police custody.

Police said Vikas first came to their notice in a snatching case in 2019, when he was a juvenile. He later became involved in illegal betting and gambling, they alleged. In 2023, he allegedly began supplying illegal firearms to gangster Anmol Bishnoi.

After Bishnoi's arrest, Vikas allegedly worked with gangsters Anil Pandit and Randeep Malik. Police said he arranged weapons, recruited associates and conducted reconnaissance of potential extortion targets before taking assignments from different gangs for money.

Deep had earlier worked as a truck helper and driver, police said. A local gang member allegedly introduced him to the foreign-based gangster, after which he entered organised crime.

Why it matters for Assam and the Northeast

The case involved alleged criminal activity across Delhi, Mumbai and Punjab. Police said the investigation was examining the wider network linked to the foreign-based gangster, including the movement of the accused and the alleged supply of illegal firearms.

What next

Further investigation was under way, police said. Investigators were examining the alleged network, the source of firearms and the roles of other people linked to the planned attacks.