Jharkhand police arrested Banti Khan, brother of fugitive gangster Prince Khan, from Kolkata and brought him to Dhanbad for questioning, foiling his alleged attempt to leave the country using forged documents, officials said on Monday. Police recovered one genuine passport, one forged passport, and a visa from his possession,they added.
He had spent nearly four years in jail and was released on bail in January. Banti had allegedly gone underground after being released on bail shortly before the shooting. Banti was produced at Bank Mor police station after being brought from Kolkata by a special team of Dhanbad Police. Dhanbad SSP Prabhat Kumar, City SP Ritwik Srivastav and Rural SP MS Yakub were present at the police station and questioned him. “A special team of Dhanbad Police arrested Banti Khan from Kolkata. He was brought to Dhanbad and is being questioned. Police are examining their alleged links with activities such as threats and extortion, particularly in the Jharia area. The police are also verifying documents and locations identified during the interrogation. Prince Khan had subsequently claimed responsibility for the murder. He also came under police scanner in connection with the firing on Babli Khan alias Haider Ansari, driver of Iqbal Khan, son of jailed gangster Fahim Khan. Police are expected to seek Banti’s remand for further interrogation and verification of the information obtained from him.
Banti is an accused in several serious criminal cases, including the murder of Mahatab Alam alias Nanhe, who was shot dead in Dhanbad’s New Market area on November 24, 2021. Banti was arrested along with two associates from a railway station in Uttar Pradesh in March 2022 and remained in custody in connection with various cases.
Several important inputs have emerged during the interrogation,” SSP Kumar said. Banti disclosed the names of several local criminals during questioning, according to the SSP. Police sources said Banti had allegedly been preparing to flee abroad to join his absconding brother Prince Khan.
The police had been keeping an eye on his activities after he came out on bail earlier this year.
