For years, police say, he ran his gang from the other side of the world. Threat calls came from abroad, shooters in Delhi and Haryana did the rest. That run appears to be over.
Gangster Himanshu Bhau, one of Haryana’s most-wanted fugitives, has been detained in Las Vegas, United States, along with fellow gangster Neeraj Faridpuria. The two were picked up on Thursday, October 23 (Thursday night India time, according to Hindustan Times) after Indian agencies shared their location with US law enforcement. Haryana Special Task Force (STF) Inspector General Simardeep Singh confirmed the detentions to The Hindu. Officials say work on bringing the pair back to India has started.
Quick Facts
- Who: Himanshu Bhau (from Ritoli village, Rohtak) and Neeraj Faridpuria (from Palwal district)
- What: Detained by US authorities after a tip-off from Indian agencies
- When: Thursday, October 23, 2026
- Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
- Cases: Dozens each in India, including murder and extortion (exact counts differ between reports)
- Reward: ₹10 lakh on each, announced by Haryana Police, as per STF officials quoted by Hindustan Times
How Himanshu Bhau and Neeraj Faridpuria Were Tracked Down in Las Vegas
According to Haryana STF officials quoted by Hindustan Times, the arrests followed an operation of about a month and a half. Investigators kept collecting technical data until they placed both men in Las Vegas. Those details were then passed to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI through central government channels.
The STF said the two were together when they were held. A source in the National Investigation Agency (NIA), speaking to The Indian Express, gave a similar account: technical surveillance and source-based information pinpointed the location, the coordinates went to US agencies, and the arrest followed on Thursday evening.
The Indian Express also reported a striking detail about Faridpuria. He had reportedly been detained in the US earlier this year, released on bail, and then removed his ankle tracker and gone missing. US authorities have not publicly commented on that account so far.
Who Is Himanshu Bhau? From Rohtak to a Red Notice
Himanshu, who also went by the alias Kunal, is 23, according to The Indian Express. He comes from Ritoli village in Rohtak. Police sources told The Hindu he was first booked at 17, in an attempted murder and extortion case.
In 2020 he escaped from a juvenile correctional home in Hisar. Police say he then linked up with local criminals and went on to build his own gang. Before a lookout circular could stop him, he allegedly got a passport from Bareilly in August 2022 using forged papers in the name “Kunal Singh” and left the country.
Reports trace his route through the UAE and Portugal, with The Hindu saying he allegedly entered the US illegally about two years ago. Interpol issued a red notice against him in August 2023, the NIA source told The Indian Express.
How many cases does he face? That depends on who you ask. Haryana Police sources told The Hindu the total is 64. An STF officer told Hindustan Times “at least 41”. The NIA source quoted by The Indian Express said over 30, with at least 16 linked to murder or attempted murder.
Who Is Neeraj Faridpuria?
Faridpuria is from Palwal district in Haryana. The Hindu reported he faces more than two dozen cases across Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, covering murder, extortion and organised crime. Hindustan Times quoted an STF officer putting his count at 63. HT also reported that he left India for the US in 2019, using a passport obtained with forged documents.
Per The Indian Express, Faridpuria is linked to the Bambiha gang from Punjab, a known rival of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and worked alongside Bhau in running the syndicate.
Elvish Yadav Firing and Other Cases Linked to the Gang
Many people outside Haryana first heard the name Himanshu Bhau after shots were fired outside YouTuber Elvish Yadav’s house in Gurugram on August 17, 2025. The Hindu reported that the two gangsters had claimed responsibility, and that shooters fired 25 to 30 rounds in an incident police connected to extortion and betting promotions.
Officials describe a clear pattern. Calls demanding money would come from abroad. If a trader or builder refused, gunmen would open fire outside their home or shop. The NIA source told The Indian Express the gang also recruited young people through social media, contacting those who followed or commented on their posts and handing them shooting jobs.
Why This Arrest Matters for Haryana and Delhi
Extortion calls from “foreign numbers” have become a real fear for small business owners in Haryana and Delhi NCR. An STF officer told Hindustan Times that the duo’s gangs mainly targeted traders, businessmen and developers, and that most of the cases against them were registered while they were already in the US.
That is the bigger point here. Running a gang remotely only works while the boss feels untouchable. According to The Indian Express, Haryana Police told a coordination meeting there are around 80 active criminal gangs in the state, naming the Bhau and Faridpuria gangs among the major ones.
What We Don’t Know Yet
- Timeline for return: Officials say the process has begun but could take time. No date has been given.
- Deportation or extradition: Reports use both words, and which legal route will be used has not been officially spelled out.
- US charges: It is not yet clear whether the pair face any charges in the US beyond immigration matters.
What This Means for You
If you run a shop or business in Haryana or Delhi NCR, the threat of extortion has not vanished with one arrest. Police generally advise a few simple steps:
- Do not pay or negotiate with anyone making threat calls. Report it to local police or dial 112.
- Save call recordings, numbers, screenshots and voice notes. They help investigators trace callers, even ones abroad.
You can read more about how international wanted notices work on Interpol’s Red Notices page.
FAQs
Where was Himanshu Bhau arrested?
He was detained in Las Vegas, USA, on October 23, 2026, along with Neeraj Faridpuria, after Indian agencies shared their location with US authorities.
Which US agencies detained the gangsters?
Haryana STF officials told Hindustan Times it was a joint operation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI.
Was Himanshu Bhau linked to the Elvish Yadav firing?
Yes. Reports say Bhau and Faridpuria claimed responsibility for the August 2025 firing outside the YouTuber’s Gurugram home. The case is still a police matter.
When will Himanshu Bhau be brought back to India?
No date has been announced. Officials say the process has started and a team of senior officers may travel to the US for paperwork.
Based on reporting by The Hindu, Hindustan Times and The Indian Express.
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