Jamnagar, Gujarat – March 19, 2021
In a major breakthrough against organised crime, Jamnagar police have tightened the net around one of the city’s most notorious land mafia figures, Jaysukh Ranpariya, also known as Jayesh Patel, leaving him with “no space to save himself” after a decade of evading justice.
Patel, who has been on the run for nearly 10 years, was arrested in London following sustained efforts by the Jamnagar police in cooperation with UK law enforcement agencies. Over the past decade, he had allegedly built a far-reaching criminal network involved in extortion, land disputes and contract killings.
Extortion Network Brought Down
Investigators say Patel ran a highly organised extortion racket, collecting large sums of money from victims through illegal channels, including hawala. Jamnagar police traced the network’s financial trail and communication back to him, cutting off his ability to raise funds.
The crackdown forced three contract killers whom Patel had reportedly hired in 2018 to assassinate advocate Kirit Joshi to flee the country. Stranded in Senegal during the COVID-19 lockdown with insufficient funds, the men eventually returned to India, where local crime branch officers arrested them in Kolkata.
Tech-Driven Investigation
Police teams also tracked Patel’s gang by tracing voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calls used to harass and extort victims. Technical analysis of the digital footprints, including IP addresses, proved crucial in linking the fugitive to ongoing criminal operations.
The investigation further utilised the India–UK Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to gather information on Patel’s movements and communications from British authorities, helping local law enforcement to corner him.
A Long Road to Justice
Patel’s arrest brings relief to a community long plagued by fear of the land mafia’s influence. Senior Jamnagar police officials credited meticulous planning, international cooperation, and persistent digital forensics for dismantling a syndicate that had operated unchecked for years.
As prosecution preparations proceed, further arrests and case developments are expected in connection with the extortion and violence linked to the gang.