Akhtar Merchant, an alleged associate of fugitive underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim, has been arrested at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after nearly three years on the run. Merchant was wanted in connection with a 2023 firing incident at a bakery in Kashimira, Mira Road, which police have linked to an alleged extortion attempt.
The arrest was carried out by the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police Crime Branch after investigators received information about Merchant’s movements. Officials reportedly tracked his return to India and intercepted him at Delhi Airport. An Interpol Red Corner Notice had also been issued against him, strengthening efforts to locate and apprehend him.
The case originated in 2023 when Kashimira Police registered a case following an alleged extortion demand involving a gutkha businessman. Investigators suspect that Merchant and another accused, identified as Nisar Ahmed Sheikh alias Pappu Pager, were involved in the alleged conspiracy.
According to the investigation, after the businessman allegedly refused to meet the extortion demand, a gunman was sent to his bakery. The suspected shooter reportedly opened fire, but no one was injured after the firearm failed to function as intended. The alleged shooter, identified as Akbar Shaikh, was subsequently arrested, while Merchant remained outside India.
Merchant is facing allegations under several serious criminal provisions, including charges related to attempted murder, extortion and criminal conspiracy. The case also involves provisions of the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Following his arrest, investigators are expected to question Merchant about his alleged role in the extortion operation and his connections with other suspects. Authorities may also examine his activities and movements during the period he remained away from India.
The arrest marks a significant development in the long-pending Kashimira case. Investigators will now seek to establish Merchant’s precise role in the alleged crime and determine whether further individuals or organised criminal networks were connected to the incident.