Nagpur Gangland on Edge as Love Affair Turns Deadly, Sparks Manhunt for Fugitive Insider

Nagpur, July 8: A tragic entanglement of love and betrayal has sent shockwaves through Nagpur's underworld, threatening to ignite a full-scale gang war. Arshad alias Topi, a former trusted member of the infamous Ippa gang, is now on the run—accused by his former associates of treachery and suspected involvement in the death of the gang leader’s wife.

According to reports, the explosive turn of events began when Arshad Topi allegedly developed a romantic relationship with the wife of the Ippa gang's kingpin. The pair were involved in a clandestine meeting last week when their motorcycle was struck by a JCB construction vehicle in a freak accident. While Topi escaped with minor injuries, the woman sustained critical trauma.

Eyewitnesses and sources indicate that a patrolling vehicle from the Koradi Thermal Power Plant reached the scene and transported the injured woman to a nearby private hospital, which allegedly refused to admit her. A second hospital in Kamptee also declined treatment, delaying critical care. Eventually, after Topi paid an ambulance driver, she was taken to Nagpur’s Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where she succumbed to her injuries early Friday morning.

CCTV footage from the hospital confirmed Topi’s presence, fueling suspicions and fury within the Ippa gang. Gang insiders now claim the accident may have been a carefully staged cover-up to eliminate the woman and conceal the affair—an allegation that has led to Topi being branded a traitor.

In response, the Ippa gang has reportedly issued an order to capture or kill Topi, prompting over 40 armed operatives to fan out across Nagpur and the adjacent Kamptee region. Intelligence inputs also suggest the gang is seeking assistance from allied criminal networks in its hunt for him.

Realizing the grave threat to his life, Topi appeared at the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) office in Pardi on Friday, requesting police protection. He was immediately escorted to Koradi police station, where his statement was recorded.

According to DCP Niketan Kadam, preliminary investigations indicate no evidence of foul play. “Our findings so far suggest it was an unfortunate accident. We have conveyed this to the gang leadership through informal intermediaries to de-escalate tensions,” he stated.

Despite the police’s assurances, the situation remains volatile. Law enforcement agencies have intensified security across Nagpur, with heightened patrols in sensitive zones including Koradi and Kamptee. The city’s crime branch units are also closely monitoring gang activity to avert potential retaliation.

Officials are urging calm, emphasizing that no conclusion should be drawn until a thorough investigation is complete.