New Delhi: In a major breakthrough for Indian security agencies, two of India’s most wanted gangsters — Venkatesh Garg and Bhanu Rana — have been arrested overseas.
According to reports, Garg was apprehended in Georgia, while Rana was captured in the United States. Both men are expected to be deported to India shortly to face multiple criminal charges pending against them.
The arrests mark a significant success for Indian law enforcement, which has been tracking dozens of fugitive gangsters operating from foreign soil. These underworld figures have been orchestrating criminal activities in India, recruiting youth from Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Rajasthan, and running extortion rackets from abroad.
Who is Venkatesh Garg?
Garg, a native of Narayangarh in Haryana, has more than ten criminal cases registered against him across several North Indian states. After being accused in the murder of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader in Gurugram, Garg fled India and took refuge in Georgia.
Sources said that he continued to expand his network from there, working closely with another fugitive gangster, Kapil Sangwan, to run a large extortion syndicate targeting businessmen, builders, and politicians in Haryana and Delhi.
In October, Delhi Police arrested four shooters linked to Sangwan’s gang for their involvement in a gun attack on a builder’s residence and farmhouse. Investigators believe Garg was one of the masterminds who coordinated the operation from abroad.
Bhanu Rana’s link with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang
Bhanu Rana, another notorious gangster captured abroad, has been living in the United States for some time. Originally from Karnal in Haryana, Rana has been associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang — one of India’s most feared criminal networks. His name surfaced during investigations into a grenade attack in Punjab.
In June, the Special Task Force (STF) of Karnal arrested two men carrying hand grenades, pistols, and ammunition who later confessed to working under Rana’s instructions. His criminal network reportedly stretches across Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi.
The Bishnoi gang, whose operations have now extended internationally, has been linked to several high-profile crimes — including the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and multiple extortion cases targeting industrialists. Canada recently declared the Bishnoi group a terrorist organization, citing its involvement in organized violence and transnational criminal activity.
India’s growing list of fugitive gangsters abroad
Currently, more than two dozen Indian gangsters are believed to be hiding in foreign countries, including Canada, the UAE, Australia, and the UK. Many of them continue to operate through digital communication channels, recruiting local youths and coordinating crimes from overseas.
The Indian government, in coordination with Interpol and foreign law enforcement, has been working to secure extradition or deportation of these criminals. The arrests of Garg and Rana are being hailed as a crucial step in dismantling these global crime syndicates.
Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that formal extradition requests have already been sent, and the duo will soon be brought back to India under tight security.
Officials said the information gathered from the two gangsters is expected to reveal critical details about their funding networks, recruitment strategies, and possible political and criminal links inside India.
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