New Delhi: A notorious gangster and a sharpshooter, also carrying a reward of Rs 1lakh, was arrested by the sleuths of the special cell, the police said on Saturday. The police claimed to have cracked five cases of murder with his arrest. 

The accused, Pradeep Rana, was arrested on the DND flyway. One pistol, two sophisticated revolvers with four cartridges recovered. The accused was involved in many murder cases. He had also jumped parole in two cases of murder. 

Pradeep Rana and his associates were involved in the abduction of Ram Pratap, a realtor, from Rohini Sector 24. They blindfolded the victim, put him in his own car and confined him in a house. 

He was threatened and forced to arrange ransom money of Rs 50 lakh. Ram Pratap was released after he paid `26 lakh to the accused, but was asked to arrange the remaining ransom amount. Ram Pratap reported the matter to police and a case was registered on August 13.

A cash reward of `1 lakh was announced last year by the Delhi police to anyone who provided information leading to his arrest, a senior police official said.

After a tip-off on Pradeep’s movements, a team was constituted and subsequently a trap was laid on the DND flyway. The police intercepted a motorcycle driven by Pradeep, following which he was arrested. One pistol with live cartridge of 0.32 bore and 2 sophisticated revolvers were seized from his possession. 

The police added Pradeep was subjected to intensive interrogation where he revealed that while confined in Rohini Jail, he came in contact with Mohit Chhabra and Paramjeet Dalal, who were lodged in different cases. The accused admitted to his involvement in the abduction of realtor Ram Pratap.

Pradeep was previously arrested in connection with cases registered under the Arms Act in 2012 and 2015, the police said. In March 2015, Pradeep and his aides were allegedly involved in a double murder in Bindapur area. They had gunned down two members of a rival gang, an officer said.