21-yr-old robber, 'idolised' by youth in his locality, arrested

New Delhi: Known as 'Don' by the youth in his locality, a robber who wanted "to rule the criminal underworld" was arrested from south east Delhi on Friday.

Cops on Sunday said that the accused, identified as 21-year-old Manikandan, had been hiding in Chennai and had returned to the Capital a couple of days ago, after which he was nabbed.

Manikandan alias Don is a Madrasi Camp area of south east Delhi's Jal Vihar and wanted in two cases of robbery in Lajpat Nagar, cops added.

According to police, on February 8, two similar cases of robbery were reported near Jal Vihar.

In the first case, Jagannath, the driver of an IAS officer, was beaten up with a baton and robbed, while the victim in the second case was identified as one Sohail Khan.

In both the cases, the accused robbed mobile phones and cash from the victims.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Chinmoy Biswal on Sunday said that a team from Lajpat Nagar police station had arrested one Kumar and apprehended a juvenile in both these cases and recovered the stolen mobile phones and cash from their possession.

However, the mastermind, known as 'Don', was at large. A non-bailable warrant and proclaimed offender (PO) proceedings were got issued against him by a court.

Eventually, on Friday, Manikandan was arrested from Jal Vihar Bus Terminal by the Lajpat Nagar police team.

"During interrogation, Manikandan revealed that he became addicted to liquor at an early age and to meet his needs, he started petty thefts. He created a stronghold among young boys in his locality and slowly became their boss," added Biswal.

The accused claimed he wanted to "rule the crime world and loved himself to be called as 'Don'." After committing two robberies, he fled to Chennai to evade arrest, but was arrested after his return to Delhi.