Dhani Ram Mittal, infamous as ‘Super Natwarlal’ and ‘Indian Charles Sobhraj,’ passed away at the age of 85 due to a heart attack. Known as one of India’s most intelligent and notorious criminals, Mittal was a law graduate, a handwriting expert, and a graphologist, yet chose a life of crime. Despite his education and expertise, he built his life through theft.
Born in 1939 in Bhiwani, Haryana, Mittal is believed to have stolen over 1,000 cars across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, and Punjab. His criminal activities were so daring that he committed these thefts in broad daylight, especially in Delhi and the surrounding areas.
Fake Documents Landed Him a Railway Job
Mittal was a master at forging handwriting, and the police have linked him to 150 cases of fraud. He earned a degree in law and represented himself in his legal matters. Using fake documents, he even managed to secure a job with the Indian Railways and worked as a station master from 1968 to 1974. His audacity reached its peak when he forged a letter to become a judge, granting bail to 2,270 accused individuals.
Fake Letter Turned Him Into a Judge
In the 1970s, Mittal read a news article about an internal inquiry against an additional judge in Jhajjar. He visited the courthouse, gathered information, and typed a fake letter, sealing it in an envelope. He then forged the High Court registrar’s stamp and signature on the letter, which ordered the judge to take a two-month leave. The judge, believing the letter to be genuine, complied and went on vacation.
The next day, another sealed envelope arrived in the court with an order from the Haryana High Court, appointing a new judge to handle the cases during the original judge’s leave. Mittal, assuming the role of the new judge, entered the courtroom and was accepted as a legitimate authority by the staff. For the next 40 days, he presided over fake cases, resolving thousands of matters and granting bail to 2,740 accused individuals.
It is believed that Mittal even used his fake position to handle his own case, acquitting himself. By the time authorities realized what had happened, Mittal had already fled. The criminals he had released or granted bail were later tracked down and imprisoned once again.
