The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sportsman takes to crime

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sportsman takes to crime

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 31. This is the story of a talented sportsman who got initiated into the world of crime due to penury. He along with three of his accomplices, who were allegedly involved in cases of car thefts and robbery, were arrested after a brief encounter with the Special Cell on Najafgarh Road this Saturday.

During interrogation, the gang leader, Shailender Kadiyan, revealed that he graduated from Rohtak University and then did a law course from a college affiliated to Rajasthan University. In 1991, the Rohtak University authorities conferred on him the title of Mr. University for excelling in sports. He told the police that he also participated in the National Junior Weightlifting Championship.

In 1994, Shailender acquired a black belt in judo and also won a gold medal in the North India Taekwondo Championship the same year. He disclosed that through funds generated by one of his contacts, he accompanied the Indian contingent to the Atlanta Olympics but not as part of any team. In 1999 and 2000, Shailender claims to have won the gold medal in the Haryana State Arm Wrestling Championship and subsequently became the vice-president of the World Arm Wrestling Federation and the president of the Indian Arm Wrestling Federation.

During his stint as a sportsman, Shailender visited countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and Finland. To earn his livelihood, he practiced as a lawyer in Rohtak and Jhajjar courts. However, he could not make enough money. It was during one of his trips to Delhi that he came in contact with a tout named Savinder Pal Singh in July 2003 who offered him a handsome amount if he could arrange people seeking jobs abroad. Shailender claimed that he convinced several people that he could get them visas and collected Rs. 26 lakhs in the process. He gave all the money to Savinder after which the former vanished from the scene.

When the people began pestering him for money, a frustrated Shailender floated a gang and started committing car jacking and thefts to raise money.

Acting on a tip-off that he along with his accomplices would come near Jhatikara roundabout on Najafgarh Road in a stolen Maruti Zen, a team under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hemant Chopra, laid a trap and intercepted the vehicle. Realising that the police had surrounded them, the accused opened fire. The police too fired few rounds and subsequently overpowered them. An Italian pistol and a country-made firearm were recovered from their possession.

During interrogation, the other three accused identified themselves as Yogesh, Anup Singh and Devanand, all residents of Najafgarh.

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