Himanshu Bhau Arrested in Las Vegas; India Seeks Return

Fugitive gangster Himanshu Bhau, who faces multiple criminal cases in India, has been arrested by US law enforcement agencies in Las Vegas following information shared by Indian central agencies. Another fugitive, Neeraj Faridpuria, was also taken into custody, according to sources cited in the report.

The arrests mark a significant development in efforts by Indian agencies to trace alleged members of organised crime networks operating across India and abroad. Authorities are now coordinating with their US counterparts to advance proceedings for Himanshu’s return to India.

How Was Himanshu Bhau Traced and Arrested in Las Vegas?

According to a source in the National Investigation Agency (NIA), an Interpol Red Notice had been issued against Himanshu, and teams from the Delhi Police and Haryana Police had been working to locate him in the United States.

Investigators reportedly used technical surveillance and information from sources to track his location to Las Vegas. The coordinates were then shared with US law enforcement agencies, which carried out the arrest on Thursday evening, the source said.

Interpol issued a Red Notice against Himanshu in August 2023. Such notices request that law enforcement agencies worldwide locate a person and provisionally arrest them, where applicable, pending extradition or similar legal proceedings. A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant.

Following the arrest, Indian agencies began coordinating with US authorities to expedite the process of bringing him back to India. According to the source, a team of senior officers may also travel to the United States to complete the required documentation.

Who Is Himanshu Bhau?

Himanshu Bhau, 23, also known as Kunal, is a native of Ritoli village in Haryana’s Rohtak district. According to the source cited in the report, he began his alleged criminal activities with extortion in Rohtak’s Subzi Mandi area.

He was subsequently accused of killing Sunny, a local youth from Ritoli village. The source said Himanshu later escaped from a juvenile correctional facility in Hisar, Haryana, in 2020.

After escaping, he allegedly became associated with local criminals, including jailed gangster Neeraj Bawana, and began targeting businesspeople for extortion. He later established his own gang.

An NIA source said Himanshu faces more than 30 cases, including at least 16 involving murder and attempted murder. These figures reflect allegations and cases attributed to him by the source; they should not be interpreted as convictions in every case.

How Himanshu Bhau Allegedly Fled India

According to the source, Himanshu obtained a passport from Bareilly in August 2022 using allegedly forged documents under the name Kunal Singh. This was before a lookout circular was issued in his name, the source said.

He reportedly travelled to the United Arab Emirates before taking an irregular migration route to Europe, commonly referred to as the “dunki route”. His relative, Sahil, 22, subsequently followed him, according to the account.

Investigators believe Himanshu continued to operate his alleged criminal syndicate from Portugal. The network was reported to have operated across Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, with assistance from associates including Yogesh Kadian, alias Bobby, Sahil and Neeraj Faridpuria.

His reported movement across several countries illustrates the cross-border challenges facing investigators seeking to trace fugitives accused of organised crime. The arrest in Las Vegas followed coordination between Indian agencies and US law enforcement.

How the Himanshu Bhau Gang Allegedly Operated

According to the NIA source, the gang used threats and targeted violence as part of an alleged extortion operation against businesspeople.

The source described a pattern in which threatening calls were made to potential targets. If a person refused to pay, gang members allegedly arranged gunfire outside the target’s home through associates operating on the ground.

Investigators also alleged that the gang used social media to recruit young people. Members reportedly posted content portraying their activities and contacted people who followed or commented on their accounts, before allegedly assigning them tasks such as carrying out shootings.

These details form part of the allegations attributed to the source. The available report does not independently establish the role of each named associate or the outcome of individual cases linked to the alleged network.

Neeraj Faridpuria Also Taken Into Custody

Neeraj Faridpuria, another fugitive named in the investigation, was also picked up by US law enforcement agencies, according to the report.

Faridpuria had allegedly evaded arrest after removing an ankle-monitoring bracelet following his detention and subsequent release on bail earlier in the year.

According to the NIA source, Faridpuria initially developed criminal connections through Kaushal Chaudhary and his associate Amit Dagar while in jail. He later allegedly became associated with the Bambiha gang through one of its members, Dinesh Gandhi.

The Bambiha gang has been described in the report as a rival of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Indian agencies are expected to coordinate with US authorities regarding the legal process for bringing the fugitives back to India.

Which Criminal Gangs Are Under Investigation in Haryana?

Haryana Police has identified several active criminal networks operating in the state, according to an account of a coordination meeting shared by an NIA source.

During a presentation to other agencies, Haryana Police reportedly estimated that around 80 criminal gangs were active in the state. Among the groups highlighted were the Himanshu Bhau gang, the Neeraj Faridpuria gang and the Lawrence Bishnoi and Bhanu Partap gangs.

These groups were identified in connection with alleged extortion and other violent crimes. The presentation formed part of coordination efforts between agencies dealing with organised criminal networks.

The reported scale of gang activity has made cooperation between state police forces and central agencies important for tracing suspects, exchanging intelligence and investigating alleged criminal operations that extend beyond state or national borders.

What Happens Next After Himanshu Bhau’s Arrest?

Himanshu’s arrest in Las Vegas does not automatically mean that he will be transferred to India immediately. His return will depend on the applicable US legal procedures and the arrangements made by Indian authorities.

Indian agencies are reportedly working with US law enforcement to expedite the necessary proceedings. Officials may also need to complete documentation relating to the cases registered against him in India.

The custody and return of Neeraj Faridpuria could also provide investigators with an opportunity to pursue cases linked to alleged criminal networks operating across several states. Any further investigative findings, however, will need to be established through the relevant legal processes.

For now, the arrests represent a development in the international search for two Indian fugitives accused of involvement in organised crime. The next major step will be determining the legal process and timeline for their return to face proceedings in India.