MostWanted Indian Firearms Vendor, Known as 'Salim Pistol,' Nabbed in Nepal
Sheikh Salim, alias 'Salim Pistol', a notorious illegal arms supplier wanted by Indian authorities for over two decades, was arrested in Nepal on August 8, 2025. This marks the culmination of a long and complex investigation into his criminal activities that spanned decades and involved high-profile cases.
Salim's criminal career began humbly with vehicle theft in 2000. He was caught and arrested for this crime, charged under sections 379, 411, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, his criminal activities soon escalated, leading to his involvement in a major armed robbery in Jafrabad worth Rs 20 lakh in 2011. He was arrested in 2013 under IPC sections 395 and 397.
In 2018, Salim was arrested by the Delhi Police but managed to flee abroad to evade law enforcement. During his time on the run, he ran a sophisticated arms smuggling network, trafficking Turkish-made Zigana pistols and other advanced weapons from Pakistan into India. His network involved dismantling pistol parts transported via vehicles and drones, with weapons sold for several lakh rupees in India. Salim maintained links with Pakistan's ISI and the underworld of Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company, supplying gangsters like Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba.
The arrest of Salim Pistol is significant as he was India's most wanted illegal arms supplier, posing a serious threat to national security. Investigators have found evidence linking him to high-profile murders, including that of Sidhu Moosewala and Baba Siddiqui. His name had earlier cropped up in these cases, but until his arrest, he had managed to evade capture.
The arrest of Salim Pistol in Nepal was the result of fresh intelligence indicating his presence in the country. The Delhi Police Special Cell coordinated with Nepal Police and Indian intelligence agencies to apprehend him. He was brought back to Delhi for pending cases related to arms trafficking and organized crime.
Salim's criminal career shows an evolution from petty crimes to leading an international arms trafficking network with serious security implications for India and the region. This timeline reflects a growing sophistication in criminal operations, international reach, and significant law enforcement challenges culminating in his 2025 capture abroad. The arrest of Salim Pistol is a significant victory in the fight against organized crime and arms trafficking in the region.
[1] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/salim-pistol-arrested-in-nepal-delhi-police-special-cell-1966953-2025-08-09 [2] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/salim-pistol-arrested-in-nepal/article65611657.ece [3] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-s-most-wanted-arms-supplier-salim-pistol-arrested-in-nepal-2845086 [4] https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/salim-pistol-arrested-in-nepal-delhi-police-special-cell-confirms/1889854 [5] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/salim-pistol-arrested-in-nepal-delhi-police-special-cell-1966953-2025-08-09
- The arrest of Salim Pistol, India's most wanted illegal arms supplier, in Nepal on August 8, 2025, has made headlines in the realms of general-news, politics, and crime-and-justice, signifying a significant victory in the fight against organized crime and arms trafficking.
- The timeline of Salim Pistol's criminal career, from humble vehicle theft in 2000 to his involvement in high-profile cases and his role as an international arms trafficker, is a stark reminder of the critical significance of crime-and-justice policies in maintaining national security.
