Chandigarh, June 11 (IANS) The Special Task Force (STF) of Haryana said on Thursday that the extradition of gangster Vainket Garg from Georgia was a landmark achievement as this was the first extradition from Georgia to India and the 10th deportation secured by it this year.

The extradition was secured through cooperation between the governments of India and Georgia.

Garg, who belongs to Naraingarh town in Ambala district, was the leader of the Vainket Garg Gang, comprising 53 members.

“The gang has been involved in murder, targeted killings, attempt to murder, extortion, organised crime and illegal use of firearms across Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Panchkula and Chandigarh,” the STF added.

Garg is a proclaimed offender and a hardened criminal involved in 34 criminal cases registered in Haryana and Chandigarh.

Prior to fleeing India, 23 criminal cases had already been registered against him.

Even after escaping abroad, he continued to operate his criminal network through gang associates, resulting in 11 additional criminal cases involving murder, attempt to murder, extortion, organised crime and Arms Act violations.

Major criminal incidents attributed to the gang include the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party leader Harbilas Singh Rajjumajra in Naraingarh and multiple extortion-related firing incidents in Ambala and Yamunanagar districts.

Investigation conducted by STF Haryana revealed that Garg fled India on December 10, 2024, from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi to the United Arab Emirates and subsequently travelled to Georgia on January 26, 2025.

During investigation, it was found that he had fraudulently obtained Passport No C5605892 by using a false residential address at Apartment number-1502, Tower number-5 at Pyramid Urban Homes 67 in Gurugram’s Sector-67.

To facilitate his return to India, STF Haryana initiated multiple legal and international measures, including issuance of Look Out Circulars (LOCs), an Interpol Red Corner Notice, declaration of the accused as a proclaimed offender and procurement of six open-dated arrest warrants through competent courts.

Subsequently, information regarding the presence of the fugitive in Georgia was received through international law enforcement channels, leading to the initiation of extradition proceedings.

The extradition was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the National Central Bureau (NCB), the Embassy of India in Georgia, and the Embassy of India in Kazakhstan.

–IANS

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