In what is being seen as a major catch for the security agencies here, notorious mafia gangster Prem Prakash, alias “Bunty Pandey”, has been nabbed by the Indian agencies in Vietnam with the help of International police (Interpol). A henchman of underworld don Chhota Rajan, Pandey was involved in nearly 50 cases of extortion,
kidnapping and other heinous crimes and had also allegedly attempted to extort Rs 2 crore from Hindi film star Shah Rukh Khan after the release of his film Om Shanti Om. He carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head. Pandey is likely to be deported to India on Wednesday and will be immediately taken to Mumbai, where he is expected to be formally declared arrested by the Maharashtra police on Thursday. Sources said that he was reportedly running a well organised extortion racket from Vietnam. “Recently, his activities came into the notice of Vietnam security agencies which later informed Interpol headquarters. Subsequently, he was detained by agencies concerned in Vietnam. Finally, Indian agencies were informed about his detention, who then initiated the process of Pandey’s early deportation”, sources added. The Interpol had already issued a “red corner notice” against him following request by the Indian agencies.
Besides Vietnam, Pandey was also reportedly operating his racket from countries like Cambodia, Nepal and Bangkok. Pandey, who used a satellite phone to make the extortion calls, is believed to have fled the country in 2005 and started his own gang of extortion and dacoities. It is also believed that Pandey was assigned the job to eliminate Chhota Shakeel, brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, by Chhota Rajan. “It is believed that Pandey executed attack on Chhota Shakeel in Bangkok in 2001”, sources said.
Sources further said, “Name of Bunty Pandey had also surfaced in the murder of ACP Rajbir Singh of Delhi police in 2008. It is also alleged that Pandey’s gang members were present at property dealer Vijay Bhardwaj’s office, from where Rajbir Singh’s body was recovered”. On several occasions, special cell and crime branch of Delhi police tracked Pandey’s movements, but he managed to flee, sources said.
adding that Pandey is also wanted for his involvement in several cases of extortion by Delhi police.