NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police successfully apprehended a notorious gangster, Manoj, after an officer used a fake social media profile posing as a Mumbai-based model to lure him. This strategic operation led to Manoj’s arrest in South Delhi, where he had agreed to meet the officer.
Manoj, a life convict and repeat parole violator, is a member of the Gogi gang and a close associate of Deepak. He was wanted in numerous cases across Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan, including murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Crime) Aditya Gautam confirmed this information in a statement.
Deepak, another key figure in the criminal world, was involved in the murder of rival gangster Tillu Tajpuria inside Tihar Jail.
The Delhi Police’s crime branch devised a digital operation to capture Manoj after discovering his social media activity. Head constables Dinesh and Sukhbir created a fake social media profile, posing as a glamorous Mumbai-based actress. After gaining Manoj’s trust through weeks of chatting, they convinced him to meet in the Safdarjung Enclave area of South Delhi.
Upon Manoj’s arrival, the waiting police team arrested him and found two weapons and eight live cartridges in his possession. He was promptly taken into custody.
BREAKING NEWS: One of the Most Wanted Interstate Gangsters, Manoj @ Arjun, Arrested by NDR/Crime Branch! 🚨👮♂️
— Crime Branch Delhi Police (@CrimeBranchDP) March 21, 2025
•Undercover Operation: Crime Branch officers ingeniously posed as a Mumbai-based model/actress on Instagram to trap the notorious gangster. 📸🎭
•Affiliation with… pic.twitter.com/0WwdcMr2kv
Originally from Mahendergarh in Haryana, Manoj moved to Delhi’s Nangloi area with his family in the 1990s. His criminal activities began in 2005 when he and his friend Chamanlal kidnapped and murdered a businessman named Rahul over a ransom dispute. Convicted in 2013, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
While in Tihar Jail, Manoj became associated with key members of the Gogi gang, such as Vicky Ramzanpur, and played a significant role in the gang’s criminal operations.
The officer said: “In 2014, Manoj was granted a one-month parole, but he made the decision to not return and instead rejoined the notorious Gogi gang. He proceeded to commit a series of crimes, including murder in Shahbad Dairy, armed carjackings in Narela, Begumpur, and Alipur, as well as extortion operations in Bawana and other areas.”
After being arrested again in 2015, Manoj spent several years behind bars but continued to orchestrate criminal activities. In June 2023, he was granted a three-week parole, during which he successfully managed to escape once more, he added.
Following his escape, he carried out a string of violent robberies in Rajasthan before eventually being captured. Despite being incarcerated in Bilada, Rajasthan, Manoj managed to deceive authorities about his criminal history and was released in December 2024.
