3 shooters linked to fugitive gangster Bobby Mahi held in Patiala
April 17, 2026
Patiala: Punjab Police on Friday arrested three alleged shooters linked to fugitive gangster Bobby Mahi and recovered illegal firearms and ammunition .
In a significant blow to organized crime in the region, Punjab Police apprehended three alleged shooters connected to the fugitive gangster Bobby Mahi in Patiala on Friday. The arrests have successfully thwarted a planned targeted shooting and have shed more light on Mahi's criminal operations, which he reportedly manages from overseas. The suspects were identified as Satvinder Singh, also known as Sunny, Jaspreet Singh, known as Hakla, and Deepak, who goes by Deepu. All three are residents of the Ghanaur area in Patiala district.
The operation was carried out by CIA Patiala teams based on specific intelligence. The trio was intercepted near the Truck Union area in Ghanaur, where they were allegedly in the final stages of planning a significant criminal act. During the arrest on Sunam Road, police recovered two .30-bore pistols along with 10 live cartridges from their possession. According to Senior Superintendent of Police Varun Sharma, the individuals were in direct and constant communication with Bobby Mahi, who is believed to be operating from the United States. Investigations have revealed that they had already conducted reconnaissance on a local property dealer and were planning to carry out a targeted attack.
Bobby Mahi, a resident of Tafajalpura in Patiala, has been declared a proclaimed offender and is facing multiple criminal cases, including charges of attempted murder. He is believed to have fled the country via an illegal route after being released from jail and has since been orchestrating a criminal enterprise from abroad. His methods reportedly involve using social media platforms to extort money from businessmen and other influential individuals. To create an atmosphere of fear and coerce his targets into paying ransoms, Mahi allegedly instructs his associates in Punjab to carry out violent acts, such as firing on their homes or vehicles.
The three arrested men were allegedly lured by Mahi with promises of money and assistance in moving abroad in exchange for carrying out his criminal directives. This modus operandi of recruiting local youths to perpetrate violence has been a key component of his extortion racket. One of the arrested individuals, Satwinder Singh, already has a prior criminal record. The successful operation by the Patiala police is seen as a major disruption to Mahi's network and has prevented a serious violent crime.
A case has been registered against the three accused at the Sadar Patiala police station under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. Authorities have stated that the investigation is ongoing as they work to uncover the full extent of the criminal network associated with Bobby Mahi. The next steps will involve interrogating the suspects to trace other members of the gang, uncover the supply chain for the illegal weapons, and gather more intelligence on Mahi's international operations. The police are expected to seek remand of the accused to facilitate a more in-depth inquiry.
Source: toi