Ranchi: Jharkhand’s most wanted criminal, Sunil Kumar alias Sunil Kumar Meena alias Mayank Singh, accused of running an organised crime syndicate from abroad, will soon be in state police custody. Arrested by Azerbaijan police last year, his extradition to India has now been cleared, and he will be handed over to Indian authorities on August 22 before being brought to India the next day.

Feared Figure in Jharkhand’s Criminal Underworld

For the past four to five years, Mayank Singh has allegedly instilled fear across Jharkhand, making threat calls to businessmen, contractors, and mining officials on behalf of gangster Aman Sahu’s gang. He frequently took credit for major incidents in the state via social media. Initially, police believed the threats came from an unknown alias, but a technical probe confirmed his identity.

Long Trail of Criminal Cases

The Jharkhand Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had filed a charge sheet against Singh in case number 175/22 at Patratu (Bhadani Nagar) police station in Ramgarh district. This led to a Red Corner Notice being issued, culminating in his arrest in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 29, 2024.

Swift Diplomatic and Legal Coordination

Following a request from the Jharkhand ATS, the CBI initiated extradition proceedings with assistance from the Ministry of External Affairs. An Azerbaijan court approved the extradition on January 27 this year, after which the Centre granted political clearance and issued passports for the police team.

Police Team to Escort Him Back

A team led by ATS Superintendent of Police Rishabh Jha will travel to Azerbaijan to escort Mayank Singh to Jharkhand. Authorities believe his interrogation could provide vital leads in solving multiple pending criminal cases across the state.