₹2 Crore Heist Mastermind Gunned Down: ASP Anuj Chaudhary Survives Point-Blank Shot in Fierce Firozabad Encounter
In a dramatic and deadly encounter on Sunday night, Naresh, a notorious gangster from Arni village in Aligarh, was shot dead by police near Halpura underpass in the Banipur forest area of Firozabad district, Uttar Pradesh.
The wanted criminal, carrying a ₹50,000 bounty, had unleashed a volley of bullets at officers — one of which struck ASP (Rural) Anuj Chaudhary squarely on his bulletproof jacket, narrowly saving his life.
According to officials, had ASP Chaudhary not been wearing his protective gear, the outcome could have been tragic. The officer was leading from the front, confronting the armed gangster head-on in a hail of gunfire.
The Encounter: Moments from Death
Late Sunday evening, the quiet of Banipur forest was shattered by rapid gunfire as police teams closed in on Naresh, acting on a tip-off that he had been spotted near BMR Hotel.
When cornered, Naresh opened fire on the officers, aiming directly at ASP Anuj Chaudhary. The bullet hit Chaudhary’s chest — but his bulletproof jacket absorbed the impact, saving him by a stroke of luck.
The brief but intense exchange left Naresh critically injured, while the Station House Officer (SHO) of Ramgarh sustained a minor bullet graze. Police rushed Naresh to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The ₹2 Crore Cash Van Robbery Mastermind
Naresh was the mastermind behind the sensational ₹2 crore cash van heist that took place on September 30 in the Makhanpur police limits of Firozabad.
The cash van, en route from Kanpur to Agra, was intercepted near Ghunpai village by two cars carrying armed men. The assailants smashed the driver’s window, assaulted him with a gun butt, tied him up inside the van, and fled with the cash.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of six gang members, from whom police recovered ₹1.53 crore in cash, two cars, an iPhone worth ₹55,000, a motorbike valued at ₹1 lakh, and multiple firearms. But Naresh — the criminal mastermind — managed to evade capture, setting off a statewide manhunt.
The Great Escape — and the Final Fall
A few weeks later, Naresh was briefly taken into custody. During interrogation, he admitted to hiding ₹20 lakh in Aligarh. But in a daring twist, as police took him to recover the money, he escaped custody, vanishing once again into the criminal underworld.
The Agra Range DIG subsequently announced a ₹50,000 reward for information leading to his capture. On Sunday, that pursuit came to an end — with a final gunfight that tested the resolve and bravery of the police force.
Weapons, Cash, and Clues
From the encounter site, police recovered two pistols, one revolver, several empty cartridges, and a cash-filled bag believed to be part of the loot from the ₹2 crore robbery.
A forensic team later combed the area, collecting ballistic evidence and tracing the trajectory of bullets fired during the clash.
A Long Criminal Trail Across Delhi-NCR
Naresh, aged 35, had a long and violent criminal history, with nine FIRs lodged against him across Delhi, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Firozabad. His record includes cases in:
- Delhi Crime Branch
- Mayur Vihar Phase-I, Delhi
- Two cases in Ghazipur, Delhi
- Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi
- Faridabad, Haryana
- Kaushambi, Ghaziabad
- Two cases in Makhanpur, Firozabad
Police records describe him as a highly skilled and elusive criminal, operating across state borders with a network stretching from Delhi-NCR to western Uttar Pradesh. He was an expert in using fake vehicle registrations and smuggling illegal weapons for planned heists.
Gang Network and Loot Distribution
Investigations revealed Naresh was part of an interstate criminal syndicate with links across Delhi, Haryana, and western UP. His close associates — Tushar (Modinagar, Ghaziabad), Dushyant (Aligarh), Akshay (East Delhi), Ashish alias Ashu (Bahadurgarh, Haryana), and Monu alias Milaap (Agra) — have all been arrested.
Recovered amounts from the gang:
- Naresh – ₹25.02 lakh
- Tushar – ₹20.12 lakh and a pistol
- Dushyant – ₹20.08 lakh and an iPhone
- Akshay – ₹13 lakh
- Ashish alias Ashu – ₹10 lakh and a motorbike
- Monu alias Milaap – ₹12 lakh
“A Warning to Criminals”
SSP Saurabh Dixit praised ASP Anuj Chaudhary’s courage, calling his leadership “exemplary under direct fire.” He said, “This encounter marks the beginning of the end of a dangerous criminal network.
ASP Chaudhary’s bravery prevented what could have been a police tragedy. Naresh’s death sends a clear message to organized gangs — law will always have the final word.”
Courage in the Line of Fire
The Firozabad encounter is a stark reminder of the risks faced by police officers on the front lines of law enforcement. ASP Chaudhary’s composure and courage, even after being hit at point-blank range, turned what could have been a deadly ambush into a decisive victory for the force.
His bulletproof jacket may have saved his life — but it was his valor and leadership that ensured his team returned safely.
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