Bihar Father-Son Duo with 14-Year Criminal History Held in Bengaluru for Contract Killings and Extortion
In a significant crackdown, the Bihar Police's Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a father-son duo from Bengaluru, uncovering a chilling criminal enterprise spanning over 14 years. The accused, Manoj Singh (65) and his son Manik Singh (30), are implicated in at least 10 murder cases and numerous extortion activities, with their gang operating primarily in Bihar and parts of Jharkhand.
Arrest Operation and Recoveries
Based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation by the Bihar Police STF and the State Intelligence Police of Bengaluru led to the arrest of the duo on February 3 from the Kodigehalli police station limits in Bengaluru. During the operation, authorities recovered cash amounting to Rs 11,290, one gold necklace, eight dongles, nine Android mobile phones, three keypad phones, and other items. Both individuals, residents of Shambhupura under Naubatpur police station in Patna district, had been absconding for an extended period and carried rewards of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh, respectively.
Criminal History and Gang Activities
Police records indicate that the duo allegedly ran a gang mainly involved in contract killings and extortion, with their criminal history dating back to at least 2012. Manoj Singh is named in 18 cases across police stations in Patna district and Jharkhand, including multiple murders, attempts to murder, extortion, robbery, criminal conspiracy, and offences under the Arms Act. Manik Singh is also named in 18 cases of a similar nature, with both accused together in 15 of these cases.
Collectively, the two are involved in at least 10 cases of murder, five cases of attempt to murder, 13 cases under the Arms Act, and eight cases related to criminal conspiracy, apart from several incidents of extortion, preparation for dacoity, and other serious offences. Their gang was notorious for extorting money from builders and sellers in the West Patna area, with one case in 2024 involving an attempt to extort around Rs 50 lakh from a company executive involved in a government road-widening project.
Notable Crimes and Investigation
One of the most brazen crimes linked to the duo was the killing of undertrial prisoner Abhishek Singh alias Chhote Sarkar on December 15, 2023, inside a court premises in Bihar's Danapur. Police investigation established that Manoj and Manik Singh orchestrated the attack, hiring two gunmen who opened fire during a court escort. Abhishek Singh succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
In another incident in March 2025, the father-son duo were allegedly involved in the shooting death of Manish Kumar alias Manu Kumar in the Naubatpur police station area. The STF is currently bringing both accused to Patna on transit remand for further investigation and legal proceedings, highlighting their status as among Bihar's top 200 criminals.
Kundan Krishnan, Director General of Operations and STF, emphasized the gang's extensive reach, stating, "They were collecting extortion in all land transactions from builders and sellers in the West Patna area." This arrest marks a critical step in dismantling a long-standing criminal network that has terrorized communities for over a decade.
