Who is Mayank Singh, the gangster brought back to Ranchi following extradition from Azerbaijan?

Gangster Mayank Singh, also known as Sunil Meena, was brought back to Ranchi on Saturday morning after being extradited from Azerbaijan in a major breakthrough for the Jharkhand Police. The operation was carried out by a special team of the Jharkhand Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), led by SP Rishav Kumar Jha, who travelled to Azerbaijan to complete the formalities under the extradition treaty between the two nations.

Speaking after their arrival, Jha said, “This is the first successful extradition in the history of the Jharkhand Police. We hope that other absconding criminals abroad will also be brought back soon through extradition or deportation.” He credited the achievement to the support of the DGP, the state government and the Centre. Singh will be produced before a Ramgarh court, where police will seek his remand for interrogation.

A history of crime

Singh, who was apprehended in Datu, Azerbaijan, in October 2024, has over 50 criminal cases registered against him across Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Punjab. According to officials, he is a close associate of gangster Aman Sahu and has also maintained links with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, helping coordinate cross-state operations.


In May 2024, the Raipur police arrested four shooters belonging to the Aman Sahu gang who were allegedly acting on Singh’s instructions. Investigations revealed that Singh directed operations remotely from abroad, giving orders for extortion and targeted attacks. Police also recovered firearms that were meant for use in planned crimes.

Singh’s notoriety led to him being placed on Interpol’s Red Corner Notice list, making him the first gangster from Jharkhand to be arrested overseas and extradited. Even after fleeing India, he reportedly continued threatening businessmen and managing extortion rackets.

Interestingly, Singh is not the first Indian gangster to be detained in Azerbaijan. In 2023, Sanjeev Kumar alias Harsh was deported from Baku and arrested upon arrival in Delhi.

With his return, investigators expect to uncover further details of his networks spanning Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Punjab, and his alleged role in running operations for Bishnoi and Sahu.