Police arrest two fugitive brothers convicted for life after nearly a decade

The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested two fugitive brothers, Firasat Ali and Shah Nawaz, who had been on the run for almost ten years. They avoided imprisonment after their appeal was denied by the Delhi High Court in 2016. The two were caught in separate operations in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Godda, Jharkhand.

According to the Crime Branch, both brothers were found guilty in a 1996 murder case at Rajouri Garden Police Station. A Delhi court sentenced them to life in prison in 2000, but they were released on bail while their appeal was pending. After the Delhi High Court upheld their conviction in 2016, they failed to surrender to authorities and stayed hidden.

Police reported that Firasat Ali was also wanted for a 2006 contract killing in Mumbai. Investigators claimed he took a contract worth Rs 2 lakh to kill a man and then dismembered the victim’s body to hide his identity, disposing of the remains in various locations. The police stated that the deceased’s wife allegedly hired him for the job.

The arrests followed close surveillance and intelligence work by the Crime Branch. Based on specific information, two police teams launched simultaneous raids on July 4 in Moradabad and Godda. They arrested both brothers at their hideouts. Authorities explained that they operated at the same time to prevent either brother from warning the other or escaping.

During questioning, police said Firasat Ali revealed that he had been moving around different areas like Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana while working as a clothes merchant. Shah Nawaz told investigators he stayed in various locations in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand, making a living in the old clothes trade while avoiding capture.

After their arrest, the brothers were taken to Tihar Jail. The Mumbai Police has been notified about Firasat Ali’s arrest, as he remains wanted in connection with the Mumbai contract killing. The Delhi Police confirmed that these arrests resulted from the Crime Branch’s ongoing efforts to track down long-time fugitives.