Delhi: From the wrestling mat to a world of crime. The Crime Branch of Delhi Police arrested Manjeet Dalal (31) alias Mangal, a former national level wrestler, for his involvement in 10 cases of firing (including on the police), robbery and attempt to murder. Manjit was also an absconder under the Arms Act.
According to Aditya Gautam, DCP, Crime Branch, Delhi Police, Manjeet was an associate of notorious gangsters such as Neeraj Bawana, Naveen Bali, Naveen Bhanja, Amit Bhura, Rahul Kala and Subeg alias Shibbu. He was also wanted for an incident of firing at the Pishori Restaurant in Lajpat Nagar in 2018.
“He was inspired by Sushil Pahalwan and began a career in wrestling. He won several medals, including a silver at the national level, before taking to crime. A dedicated team was working on ways to arrest him for the last one month. A watch was maintained around the Singhu Border between Delhi and Haryana and he was arrested from there,” Gautam said.
During investigation, it came to be known that Manjeet had stopped living at his house in the Mandothi village and was not attending court hearings. Several non-bailable warrants were issued against him.
Manjeet belongs to a family of zamindars and won a silver medal at the national level in 2007 in the 86 kg category. In 2010, his mother died of cancer, and his father left home. Later, his brother also moved to their relatives in Rohtak. During this period, the notorious gangster Neeraj Bawana frequently visited his village and was in search of local support to kill rival gangster Kartar of Mandothi Village.
“Neeraj Bawana saw potential in Manjeet Dalal and lured him into joining his gang. After his mother’s death, Manjeet Dalal was unable to continue his wrestling career and thus joined the Neeraj Bawana Gang, becoming involved in a series of sensational cases, including mafia extortion, attempted murder, violations of the Arms Act, and carjacking. Delhi Police had also declared rewards for his arrest on two occasions. In 2012, he was involved in a spate of extortion attempts on businessmen. In this regard, three cases were registered and his voice samples were also matched,” the DCP said.
At present, he was in regular contact with Sahil Ritauli. Ritauli and his brother Himanshu Bhau, are wanted for a series of heinous crimes in Delhi and Haryana. They have fled the country.
In 2017, Manjeet, along with his accomplices had demanded Rs 1 crore from a UP-based doctor at the behest of Amit Bhura and was later arrested. He was granted bail later and absconded.
