5000 cars stolen in 24 years. India's 'biggest car thief' held

Anil Chauhan, arrested by the Delhi Police on Monday, could be the "biggest car thief" in India, with is gang stealing 5000 vehicles from various parts of the country since 1998.
Chauhan (52), who hails from Tejpur, Assam, is also a big supplier of illegal arms, PTI reported police as saying. He was also notorious for smuggling of rhino horns in the northeastern state.

He had previous criminal involvement in 181 cases, had been convicted for five years in a criminal case of Nizamuddin police station.

Chauhan allegedly started stealing vehicles in 1998 . He has so far stolen approximately 5000 vehicles from various parts of India, and sold them in the North East and even in Nepal.

He has also amassed properties in Delhi, Mumbai, and North Eastern states with this ill-gotten wealth, NDTV reported.

Police were on the alert after a spurt in the activities of illegal arms suppliers in central Delhi, and Chauhan was alerted after a tip off.

An illegal country-made pistol, two live cartridges, and a stolen motorcycle was found with him. Further questioning led to the recovery of five more country made pistols, five live cartridges and a stolen car.

The accused was several years ago a Class-I contractor in Assam government. He took to committing thefts after the Enforcement directorate raided his place and all his property was seized and auctioned.