The crime branch of Delhi Police has arrested six alleged shooters linked to gangsters Rashid Cablewala and Hashim Baba after tracing them to a party at a lounge on Pusa Road in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh.
Police said the accused were allegedly planning attacks on rival gang members and were involved in extortion, betting and illegal arms operations across east and northeast Delhi. Senior police officials have also reportedly raised concerns over gang members gathering in bars and lounges across the city.
The arrested men were identified as Faiz Qureshi (26), Maaz (24), Nawajish (32), Affak (24), Imran (39) and Arshad (25), all residents of Babarpur and Brahmpuri areas of Delhi. Investigators said all six had previous criminal records involving murder, attempted murder, extortion, rioting and violations under the Arms Act.
According to police, the accused were allegedly in direct contact with fugitive gangster Rashid Cablewala through an encrypted communication app.
Joint Commissioner of Police Surender Kumar said the arrests followed a surveillance operation conducted on May 6 targeting active gangs and wanted criminals.
“A team was conducting surveillance on active gangs and wanted criminals when intelligence inputs revealed that several operatives linked to the Rashid Cablewala and Hashim Baba gangs had gathered at the Karol Bagh lounge,” Kumar said.
“As the club was crowded, the police team maintained surveillance outside the premises. Around 4.05am, four suspects came out of the club and were nabbed,” he added.
Police recovered four sophisticated pistols — including two Italy-made Beretta firearms — along with 32 live cartridges from a Maruti Baleno parked near the lounge. The vehicle was also seized.
Subsequent raids led to the arrest of two more suspects, Arshad and Imran, and the recovery of additional illegal weapons.
In total, police seized nine sophisticated pistols, 77 live cartridges of .30 and .32 bore, one .312 bore rifle (doga) with four live cartridges, and the car used by the accused.
Investigators said Rashid Cablewala, a close associate of jailed gangster Hashim Baba, currently operates his network from Dubai and has allegedly been linked to several high-profile murders in Delhi. These include the killings of businessman Nadir Shah in Greater Kailash-I, businessman Sunil Jain in Krishna Nagar and a double murder case in east Delhi last year.
Police further alleged that Nawajish handled illegal arms procurement for the gang, with five firearms and 53 cartridges recovered based on his disclosure. Imran allegedly managed the gang’s finances, while Maaz and others were involved in collecting extortion money from local clubs and businesses.
