'Disturbing Trend' Of Organised Gangs, Sleeper Cells In Haryana Districts Like Gurugram & Faridabad: High Court Seeks State's Response

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Haryana, Home Department, to file an affidavit apprising it of the policy framework and institutional measures put in place by the State to deal with organised criminal gangs and their sleeper cells.Justice Sanjay Vashisth while allowing of three connected bail pleas observed, "this Court deems it appropriate to take note of the disturbing trend emerging in certain districts of the State of Haryana, particularly Palwal, Faridabad and Gurugram, where organized criminal gangs and their sleeper cells are alleged to be operating with increasing frequency. Such activities have serious ramifications for the maintenance of public order and the safety and security of citizens."Accordingly, it called for Home Department's affidavit indicating "the preventive, investigative and intelligence-based mechanisms adopted by the State, the inter-agency coordination in place, and the specific measures undertaken to maintain law and order and curb organised criminal activities in the districts of Palwal, Faridabad and Gurugram."The three petitions under Section 483 BNSS were filed by Kuldeep Tyagi, Aman @ Aman Bhati and Akash @ Akash Bhati, all arrayed in FIR registered at Police Station City Palwal, District Palwal, under Sections 111(3) and 111(4) BNS and Section 25(6) of the Arms Act. Sections 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2) and 238 BNS (corresponding to Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 201 IPC) were subsequently added.As per the prosecution, a police party acting on secret information conducted a raid in which Akash @ Akash Bhati was apprehended, and a country-made pistol with four live cartridges and a country-made rifle/carbine with four live cartridges were allegedly recovered from his personal search. His disclosure statement led to the nomination of two further accused, Amit and Aman @ Aman Bhati, the latter being Akash's brother.While no recovery followed Amit's disclosure statement, Aman's disclosure recorded on 10.02.2025 allegedly revealed that the firearms had been handed over by him to his brother after being received in a bag from co-accused Mukesh. A further disclosure statement of Aman dated 12.02.2025 allegedly led to the recovery of a country-made pistol with two live cartridges, said to have been supplied by one Vishal Kaushik.Counsel for Kuldeep Tyagi submitted that he had been falsely implicated, that the only allegation against him was the recovery of one country-made pistol with two live cartridges, and that he had remained in judicial custody since 08.11.2025 with the trial likely to take considerable time.Counsel for Aman @ Aman Bhati submitted that the alleged recovery from him comprised one country-made pistol with two live cartridges, one mobile phone allegedly used for communication through the 'Zangi' application, and one forged Aadhaar card, and that he had been in custody since 10.02.2025. Counsel for Akash @ Akash Bhati submitted that the recovery from him comprised a carbine-type rifle with four live cartridges, a country-made pistol with four live cartridges and two mobile phones, and that he had been in custody since 22.01.2025.Jointly, counsel contended that the prosecution had sought to portray the petitioners as members of an organised criminal syndicate allegedly headed by Kaushal Chaudhary and Himanshu @ Bhau, along with associates Sahil, Neeraj Pandit @ Neeraj Faidpuria and Chand Ram, stated to be residing abroad, said to be engaged in contract killings and armed attacks on businessmen, doctors, engineers and other affluent persons for extortion.Bail was also sought on the ground of parity, co-accused Vishal Kaushik and Munesh Lamba having been granted regular bail by the High Court on 12.05.2025 and 07.04.2026 respectively, and co-accused Amit and Rohit having been granted bail by the Additional Sessions Judge, Palwal on 24.11.2025 and 09.04.2026 respectively.Opposing the petitions, the State submitted that the case was not an isolated incident of recovery of illegal firearms but formed part of the activities of an organised criminal syndicate operating across Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, orchestrating incidents of murder, attempted murder and extortion through a network of local associates. It was submitted that the districts of Palwal, Faridabad and parts of Gurugram adjoining Uttar Pradesh had witnessed a significant rise in such activities in recent years, and that the petitioners were functioning as sleeper cells of the gang by facilitating the procurement, concealment and supply of illegal firearms and forged identity documents.Allowing the petitions without expressing any opinion on merits, the Court noted that the investigation stood concluded, the final report had already been presented before the competent Court, and the recoveries attributed to each of the petitioners had already been effected. In these circumstances, it held that "no useful purpose would be served by their ...

'Disturbing Trend' Of Organised Gangs, Sleeper Cells In Haryana Districts Like Gurugram & Faridabad: High Court Seeks State's Response

Aiman J. Chishti

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Aiman J. Chishti

'Disturbing Trend' Of Organised Gangs, Sleeper Cells In Haryana Districts Like Gurugram & Faridabad: High Court Seeks State's Response

Aiman J. Chishti

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Aiman J. Chishti

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