Police say Sambhal ‘prime conspirator’ operating from Dubai, want Interpol’s Red Corner Notice against him  

“We are now working with central agencies to begin the process of obtaining a Red Corner Notice through Interpol to ensure Satha’s arrest abroad. On Saturday, a formal notice declaring him a proclaimed offender was pasted at his residence in Deepa Sarai area of Sambhal,” Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar said on Sunday.

More than a month ago, the police had issued a lookout circular against Satha.

“Despite several raids and sustained search operations, Satha continues to evade arrest. This prompted the police to move the court and obtain an order declaring him a proclaimed offender. He is believed to be based in Dubai, and continues to issue instructions to his associates in Sambhal to manage his operations,” a police officer said, adding the gangster, who has been active for more than three decades, is facing over 60 criminal cases, including those of murder, extortion, rioting, and criminal intimidation.

Running his crime network from abroad through his local associates, his gang is involved in vehicle theft rackets, operating across Delhi and the NCR, officials said.

Investigators suspect that he fled to Dubai around 2020 using a fake passport, and since then, he has been orchestrating criminal activities from abroad through his network in India.

Police officials said Satha’s gang is primarily involved in auto-lifting, illegal vehicle trade, and extortion rackets, using the proceeds to fund other criminal ventures.

Why did the police consider him the prime conspirator in Sambhal violence?
On November 24, clashes had erupted near the Shahi Jama Masjid following a court-ordered survey of the 16th-century mosque, which left four people dead and several others, including policemen, injured. Following the incident, police registered 12 FIRs across different police stations in Sambhal.

“During the investigation, Satha emerged as the key conspirator behind the Sambhal violence. He facilitated the clashes by supplying weapons. He has been booked for criminal conspiracy in five cases related to the incident, including four cases of murder,” said a police officer.

According to police, his aides, acting on his instructions, procured and distributed weapons that were used by protesters during the violence.

So far, police have arrested three of his close associates in connection with the case.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the violence has arrested around 100 people.

During the investigation, police suspected possible foreign links after recovering six empty cartridges from the site, one of which was allegedly traced to Pakistan. It was later during this probe that Satha’s role came to light.
Police have filed chargesheets in 12 cases, and trials have begun in all of them, officials said.

What is a Red Corner Notice?
A Red Corner Notice is a request sent by Interpol to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person, pending their extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
It is issued when a person is accused or convicted of a serious crime and has fled to another country. It serves as a tool to facilitate their temporary arrest.