Surat: The Surat Special Operations Group (SOG) has arrested a notorious history-sheeter after a video of him firing a pistol went viral, police said on Friday.The accused, Deepak Kutekar (23), a member of the Surya Marathi gang, was apprehended near Viramnagar Society gate in the Chowk Bazar area while allegedly planning a serious offence. Police recovered an illegal pistol from his possession, which he had procured for Rs 35,000.Acting on a tip-off, a team led by SOG inspector J M Parmar tracked and nabbed Kutekar before he could execute his plan.During interrogation, Kutekar revealed that he had purchased the weapon from Uttar Pradesh in 2024 following a dispute with a Surat-based man, Hitesh Solanki and intended to use it to take revenge.Police said Kutekar has a long criminal record, with 21 offences registered against him, including attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and extortion. He has also been booked under the NDPS Act, GP Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.A case under the Arms Act has been registered against him at Chowk Bazaar police station.Given his criminal history, the Surat police commissioner had invoked the PASA Act against him multiple times in 2021, 2022 and 2025. He was also externed from the city in 2023.
