India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
After months of legal proceedings and international manhunt, Punjab Police has recovered alleged gangster associate Amritpal Singh who was out on the run from authorities for more than two years in Moldova.
Singh, who was brought back to the country via a four-member Punjab Police team at Chisinau Airport on September 11, 2026, reached the Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport the next day.
Alleged gangster associate Amritpal Singh was extradited from Moldova to India on September 12, 2026, to face 21 criminal cases, following his arrest near the Otaci border on February 24, 2026.
The police had claimed that Singh had left India in October 2024 and used a fake passport from Chandigarh issued in the name of “Gurpal Singh” to cross borders of the UAE and other countries to Moldova.
His movement triggered inquiries by the authorities as he was arrested by the Moldovan police near the Otaci state border on February 24, 2026, after he allegedly tried to enter Ukraine.
In the meanwhile, Punjab Police and various central agencies shared information regarding his identity and travel documents, and steps were taken to bring him back to India. A Red Corner Notice was also filed.
Operation Eastern Reach, conducted by Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force and OFTEC Punjab, with assistance from central agencies, led to his extradition. Police said that the intelligence agency-led operation was ongoing for around six months, and worked towards tracking Singh and completing legal procedures for his extradition.
A Moldovan court granted Singh’s extradition to India, on May 26, 2026. However, Singh moved to the Court of Appeal Centru against extradition and his plea was dismissed on July 16. This made Singh’s extradition to India official.
Punjab Police said that Singh would be the first person to be extradited from a European country by the force.
He faces 21 criminal cases in Punjab, including those related to murder, Arms Act, NDPS, extortion, Passport Act and UAPA provisions. The police said that seven of these cases are still under investigation, and four are in trial court.
Authorities said that Singh was a key associate and main hitman of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and his extradition will allow Indian investigating agencies to continue proceedings and investigations in the pending seven cases and four trial court cases.
