New Delhi: Delhi Police’s special cell has arrested two alleged shooters linked to a foreign-based gangster and foiled a planned shooting attack on a prominent Bollywood actor in Mumbai. Cops didn’t divulge the actor’s name. The shooters were also planning to target a Delhi businessman over extortion demands. One of the arrested men was wanted in the murder of Instagram influencer Mad Sandhu, who was shot dead in Amritsar on Oct 3.The two accused have been identified as Vikas Thakur alias Vicky, a resident of Jalandhar in Punjab, and Deepak Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran district.DCP (special cell) Narra Chaitanya said Singh was apprehended from Mumbai before he could allegedly execute the planned firing attack on the Bollywood actor. The gangster had allegedly instructed him to remain in Mumbai and facilitate the attack on the actor over his alleged remarks concerning the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.Cops also arrested Thakur, who had travelled to Delhi to allegedly carry out an attack on the businessman on the instructions of the gangster.According to police, Singh was allegedly involved in the Oct 3 murder of Sandhu in Amritsar. He and his aide Palwinder alias Kaka allegedly targeted Sandhu on the instructions of the foreign-based gangster. While Palwinder was arrested by Punjab Police, Singh managed to evade arrest and took shelter in Mumbai. Investigators said the gangster subsequently asked Singh to prolong his stay in Mumbai so that he could execute the planned attack on the Bollywood actor.Police said Thakur had entered the criminal world as a juvenile in 2019 after being involved in a snatching incident. He allegedly began supplying illegal weapons to gangster Anmol Bishnoi in 2023.Following Bishnoi’s arrest, Thakur allegedly shifted allegiance to gangsters Anil Pandit and Randeep Malik, undertaking activities such as recruiting members, arranging firearms and conducting reconnaissance of potential extortion targets.He later allegedly began working independently for different criminal syndicates in exchange for money. Police said he subsequently came in contact with the foreign-based gangster and was assigned the task of targeting the Bollywood actor in Mumbai.In the latest assignment, Thakur allegedly travelled from Mumbai to Delhi to carry out an extortion-driven shooting at a local businessman. Singh was also supposed to join him as part of the operation. However, the special cell intercepted the accused before the planned attack could be executed.
