The Delhi Police Special Cell has thwarted two planned attacks, including a firing plot targeting Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan outside his Mumbai residence, following the arrest of two alleged shooters linked to a foreign-based gangster. The accused have been identified as Vikas Thakur alias Vicky, 25, a resident of Jalandhar, and Deepak Singh alias Deep, a resident of Tarn Taran in Punjab.
According to police sources, Deepak Singh was instructed to remain in Mumbai for an extended period to execute an attack on Amitabh Bachchan, allegedly over the actor's purported remarks during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Bachchan has consistently denied making any inciting remarks regarding the 1984 riots. Deep was also wanted for the October 3 murder of Instagram influencer Mad Sandhu in Amritsar, Punjab, an attack allegedly carried out alongside an associate, Palwinder alias Kaka, who was previously arrested by Punjab Police.
The operations, conducted in Delhi and Mumbai, also averted a separate extortion-driven shooting targeting a Delhi-based businessman. Police stated that Vikas Thakur had travelled from Mumbai to Delhi on the instructions of the foreign-based gangster to carry out the shooting at the businessman, with Deep scheduled to join him later. However, the Special Cell intercepted Vikas in Delhi, subsequently using intelligence inputs to track down Deep at his hiding spot in Mumbai.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Narra Chaitanya confirmed that the arrests successfully prevented both planned attacks. Investigators noted that Vikas Thakur had been working for organised crime syndicates, tasked with arranging firearms, recruiting members, and conducting reconnaissance of potential extortion targets.
