Mastermind of ATM Theft Gang Arrested in Rajasthan After Year-Long Manhunt
Imran Khan, the mastermind behind a series of ATM thefts, was arrested in Rajasthan after evading authorities for a year.
Bhiwadi, September 4 (Daily Kiran) : The Delhi Crime Branch has achieved a significant breakthrough in its fight against ATM thefts with the arrest of Imran Khan, also known as “Imma.” Khan was apprehended in the dense forests of Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, after being on the run for nearly a year. He is wanted in over 20 ATM theft cases across Delhi and several other states and had previously been declared a proclaimed offender in two cases.
Khan, 36, hails from Mamolka village in the Hathin area of Haryana’s Palwal district. Described as uneducated, he worked part-time as a truck driver and was well-known in the area by his nickname, “Imma.” Authorities stated that he had developed expertise in dismantling and stealing ATM machines.
The NDR unit of the Crime Branch had been receiving consistent intelligence suggesting that Khan was behind multiple ATM thefts in Delhi. He was reportedly hiding in the remote regions of the Mewat area, evading capture. Under the direction of DCP Chandra Kumar Singh, a special team was formed, led by ACP Umesh Berthwal and Inspector Vivek Malik, to track him down.
Over the past year, the team conducted technical surveillance, analyzed CCTV footage, and gathered ground intelligence. Their investigation pointed towards Mewat, where Khan was using the dense forests and deserted villages to remain hidden. Head Constable Ram Naresh and SI Umar Din blended into the local community to collect covert information. Eventually, they discovered that Khan was hiding in a secluded location in the Gwalda Hills of Bhiwadi.
On September 2, despite challenging geographical conditions, the team executed a search operation in the forest. After several hours of searching, they successfully captured Khan at his hideout. Investigations revealed that he was involved in more than 12 ATM thefts in Delhi and eight others across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and different states. He was wanted in ten cases, with non-bailable warrants issued in six of them. In two cases, related to e-FIR 7271/2022 from Hazrat Nizamuddin police station and FIR 74/2022 from the Special Cell, he had been declared a proclaimed offender by the court.
During interrogation, Khan admitted to his involvement in two additional ATM thefts in Delhi’s Mandawali, Timarpur, and New Friends Colony, pending formal charges. He also faces charges in Bharuch, Gujarat, and Dausa, Rajasthan.
The Crime Branch believes that this arrest will unveil a significant network behind ATM thefts operating in the Delhi-NCR region. Authorities are now investigating his associates, the distribution of stolen money, and the vehicles and logistics used in the thefts.
