The Delhi Police Special Cell on Thursday arrested a 34-year-old man, who assisted an undertrial prisoner in escaping from the police custody while the police had taken him to the Maulana Azad Medical College two months ago. The under-trial prisoner, Sandeep Dhillu is still absconding and carries a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head.
Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Special Cell said, “The arrested accused, Gaurav Sharma is an interstate criminal. He was the one who facilitated the escape of Sandeep Dhillu by spraying chilli powder on the police personnel. Gaurav is also involved the murder of one Monu alias Nepali, a member of the Jitender Gogi gang. Gaurav along with Sandeep Dhillu, Amit Dabang and Kalu fired at Monu at the Rohini court on March 16.
A wanted criminal, Gaurav was carrying of Rs 50,000 on his arrest by the Delhi Police and Rs 10,000 by the Haryana Police.
Sleuths of the Southwestern Range of the Special Cell had been working on the case. on the morning of February 19, Sandeep Dhillu managed to escape from high risk custody at Maulana Azad Medical College, Hospital with the help of his associates. In March, Special Cell and Crime Branch arrested some of his associates. During their interrogation, names of Gaurav and Naresh was revealed.
Yadav said, “Gaurav Sharma came in contact with Sandeep Dhillu and Rohtas while he was lodged in Rohtak Jail. On February 19, on the directions of Sandeep Dhillu, Gaurav Sharma along with Paramjeet, Deepak, Salman, Sonu Bawana, Ritik Pandey, and others reached at the MAMC Hospital where they attacked police escort team with pepper powder and fired in air and managed to get Sandeep Dhillu escape from their custody.”
The DCP said, “During investigation, teams were sent to Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Delhi-NCR. On April 20, specific information was received that Gaurav Sharma would come to meet his associate at midnight. On this information, a team of Special Cell laid a trap at Mayapuri and Gaurav Sharma was arrested. One revolver and 4 live cartridges were recovered from his possession.”
Police said that during sustained interrogation, Gaurav disclosed that while he was lodged in Rohtak Jail, he met Sandeep Dhillu and Rohtash and befriended them. After his release from jail, he stayed in touch with them. In the mean time, he was in regular touch with Sandeep Dhillu, who was lodged in Mandoli jail. Police further said Sandeep Dhillu wanted to take revenge from his enemies and wanted to escape from the custody. He along with his associates Paramjeet, Deepak, Salman, Pramod, Pandey, Sonu Bawana and others met in a flat at Rohini Sector 15 and hatched a conspiracy to get the Sandeep escape, the DCP said.