What do Delhi-criminals have in common? Love for 'Shah Rukh'
If superstar Shah Rukh Khan had a penny for every criminal in Delhi adopting his name, he would add another small fortune to his wealth. Drug smugglers, arms dealers, snatchers, contract killers, even terrorists- many high-profile names in Delhi Police's crime files bear the alias 'Shah Rukh.' In fact, the top three Indian Mujahideen operatives- Iqbal, Riyaz and Yasin Bhatkal- use the same alias.
This smuggler's drug cartel friends knew him as 'Shah Rukh'
Here're just some of the 'Shah Rukhs' police have nabbed. In March last year, police arrested 'Shah Rukh,' a Srinagar native, from Delhi University's North Campus for dealing drugs. The 32-year-old had smuggled more than 1,000kg of hashish in just six months. Afterwards, he confessed his real name was Shabir Ahmed Rather, HT reports, but very few of his friends in the cartel knew this.
These gang members thought the name suited them well
Then there's Shabbo, a key member of the Chennu Pehalwan gang notorious for murder, extortion and landgrabbing, who was also known as 'Shah Rukh.' Javed, one of the two 'Baraati gang' members, used to introduce himself as 'Shah Rukh' and even dressed like him. The duo crashed weddings and stole expensive items from the venue, like cellphones and jewelry, till they were arrested in March'16.
This robber wanted to go to Mumbai like his idol
19-year-old Bunty, member of a highway robbers gang, had his own reasons for adopting the alias 'Shah Rukh.' After being arrested over a Rs. 2cr-robbery, he told police he took it up because he "wanted to earn money and go to Mumbai," just like the superstar. Meanwhile, Yasin 'Shah Rukh' Bhatkal has been arrested, while Iqbal and Riyaz remain on the most wanted list.
Will 'Sanju' eventually beat 'Shah Rukh'?
A senior police officer, talking to HT, denied this was a trend. "Most criminals have fake names," he said. Though many had adopted the actor's name, "it has a lot to do with his onscreen roles," he explained. Indeed, another favorite alias of criminals was 'Sanju,' after Sanjay Dutt. "We also routinely have come across many criminals who copy his hairstyle and dressing sense."
