Delhi ex-MLA Shokeen was crime syndicate's political face: Police

Former Delhi legislator Rambeer Shokeen, who is on the run, was the political face of a crime syndicate involved in extortion and murder, Delhi Police said in its charge sheet filed on Thursday.

Police said Shokeen was found playing a key role in harbouring and financing the syndicate members.

"Shokeen has been found criminally involved in the commission of gruesome crimes on behalf of the syndicate in the capacity of background conspirator," police said in their charge sheet.

The charge sheet was filed before Additional Sessions Judge Neena Bansal Krishna.

Police also charge sheeted jailed gangster Neeraj Bawana and eight others under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Police alleged that Shokeen was involved in the disposal of stolen police weapons and in supplying money to absconding members of the syndicate.

They said Shokeen was shrewdly using the 'muscle power' of the syndicate in advancing his political ambitions so that protection could be afforded to the gangsters in his political capacity.

He was also found using the clout of criminals of this syndicate for contesting assembly elections in furtherance of his political ambitions and for gaining pecuniary benefits.

Police said efforts were being made to trace Shokeen. He was declared a proclaimed offender by the court last month.