Key member of Lawrence Bishnoi gang deported from US; held at Delhi airport
New Delhi (PTI): A key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Aman Bhainswal, who was facing an Interpol Red Notice, was deported from the US on Wednesday in an operation coordinated by the CBI and arrested by the Haryana police at the Delhi airport, officials said.
According to an official statement, gangster Aman Kumar alias Aman Bhainswal was allegedly involved in cases of firing, murder, attempt to murder, extortion and illegal arms activities across Haryana and the Delhi-NCR region. He had fled abroad using forged documentation in an attempt to evade prosecution.
The CBI obtained an Interpol Red Notice against Bhainswal, who is facing charges for various offences related to murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy, at the request of the Haryana Police.
"The accused is a notorious criminal and key member of an organised criminal gang, namely the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. He was earlier arrested in India and was later granted bail. However, he did not face trial and subsequently absconded," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.
Based on the Interpol Red Notice, Bhainswal was traced and geolocated in the US.
"He was successfully deported from the USA and arrived in India on January 7, 2026. He was taken into custody by a team of the Haryana Police at Delhi Airport," the official said.
He has 10 serious criminal cases registered against him in Haryana and Delhi, out of which six cases were filed before he went abroad, an officer of Gurugram Police's STF said.
Special Task Force (STF) IG B Satheesh Balan said that Bhainswal had been detained in the United States two months ago.
"Investigations revealed that Gangster Bhainswal fraudulently obtained a passport using forged documentation based on an East Delhi address. On June 20, 2024, he travelled to Kuwait using this illegal passport and subsequently entered the United States.
"A case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Passport Act was registered in Gohana Sadar police station against the gangster in Sonipat. A Look-Out Circular (LOC) was issued, an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) was secured, and he was formally declared a proclaimed offender," he said.
This is the sixth successful extradition carried out by STF since 2025 and the second major operation executed from the United States, he noted.
Balan said that the success has been made possible through seamless cooperation between Indian authorities, Interpol, US enforcement agencies and state police units, and that the entire process was completed in over one and a half years.
The police said Bhainswal also had links with the Rohit Godara gang.
Meanwhile, after Bhainswal's arrest, Haryana DGP Ajay Singhal warned criminals and fugitives that they cannot escape the law by crossing borders or adopting forged identities.
“Those who think they can hide beyond national boundaries or evade the law through fake identities must understand that no one can escape the reach of Haryana Police.
"Every fugitive -- whether in India or abroad -- will be brought to justice. Haryana is a state of law and order, not a refuge for criminals,” the state police chief said.
A Haryana police statement said that the DGP's message signals even more stringent action against organised crime in the coming months.
Bhainswal operated a criminal network that extended across Sonipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar and the national capital.
Through advanced monitoring, intelligence exchanges and cross-border operational alignment, the STF ensured that Bhainswal's presence and activities were continuously tracked, the police said.
DGP Singhal said that STF Haryana will continue its relentless efforts to neutralise criminal networks and safeguard public safety.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
