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Crime

Delhi Police arrests killer of Haryana cop, accused in attempt-to-murder cases, after 28 years

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New Delhi, Aug 6: In a major breakthrough, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested a notorious proclaimed offender who had been evading law enforcement agencies for nearly 28 years after escaping police custody. The accused, identified as Rajinder Bairagi alias Rajinder Singh Yadav alias ‘Dr Jhatka’ (53), was wanted in connection with the murder of a Haryana Police personnel, multiple attempt-to-murder cases, and a daring escape from police custody while handcuffed.

The arrest was made by the Northern Range-1 (NR-1) team of the Crime Branch following a multi-state operation that culminated in Mungaoli town of Madhya Pradesh’s Ashok Nagar district.

Police said the accused had successfully lived under a false identity for decades, managing to establish a new life while remaining on the run from authorities.

According to Delhi Police, the operation began as part of a special drive to trace and apprehend long-absconding proclaimed offenders involved in serious crimes in Delhi.

Investigators initially focussed on two cases registered at Janakpuri Police Station in June 1997. These included FIR No. 658/1997 under Sections 307, 324, 506, and 34 of the IPC relating to a violent knife attack in Uttam Nagar, and FIR No. 659/1997 under Sections 307 and 34 of the IPC pertaining to an attempt-to-murder case.

Rajinder had evaded arrest for years in both cases and was subsequently declared a proclaimed offender by the Rohini Courts in 2008. However, during the course of the investigation, police uncovered a far more extensive criminal history, including his alleged involvement in the murder of a Haryana Police official and his escape from police custody in 1999.

Police officials said establishing the accused’s true identity posed a significant challenge because he had successfully blended into society under a new name and had acquired multiple local identity documents.

Through extensive field Intelligence, technical surveillance, and analysis of digital footprints, investigators confirmed his identity, mapped his movements, and tracked his location.

Once his whereabouts were verified, a team led by Inspector Sanjay Kaushik, along with SI Deepak Kumar, ASI Ramesh Rana, HC Sanjeev Kumar, and HC Sanjeev Jakhar, conducted a raid in Mungaoli under the supervision of ACP Suresh Kumar of Northern Range-1.

The accused was apprehended and later produced before the Judicial Magistrate Court in Mungaoli. After obtaining transit remand, he was brought to Delhi and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Dwarka.

During interrogation, Rajinder revealed that he had been a kabaddi player in his youth and gradually came into contact with criminal elements. Police said that on the night of May 10, 1998, he and five armed associates were involved in a violent incident at a wedding function in Saiyan Khera village in Haryana’s Sonipat district.

According to investigators, a dispute broke out between the accused and members of the bride’s family, following which the group allegedly opened indiscriminate fire. Haryana Police personnel Jai Bhagwan, who was the bride’s uncle, sustained fatal gunshot injuries and died on the spot, while another person was critically injured.

Following the incident, a case was registered at Gannaur Police Station under Sections 148, 149, 307, 302, and 449 of the IPC, along with provisions of the Arms Act. Rajinder was subsequently arrested. However, on February 14, 1999, while being escorted by Uttar Pradesh Police personnel from Ghaziabad Jail to a court in Sonipat, he escaped from custody despite being handcuffed. A separate case was registered against him in connection with the escape.

Police said that after fleeing custody, Rajinder travelled to Kolaba in Maharashtra, where he reportedly worked as a physical education teacher at a Kendriya Vidyalaya for about a year. He later moved permanently to Mungaoli in Madhya Pradesh and assumed the identity of Rajender Singh Yadav.

Over the years, he established himself in the local community and married Mamta Yadav in 2003. She currently serves as an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) at a government hospital in Mungaoli.

The accused reportedly worked as an unregistered medical practitioner, earning the nickname ‘Dr Jhatka,’ while also engaging in property dealing and contracting work. He even operated a small clinic and managed to obtain official documents, including an Aadhaar card, voter identity card, PAN card, driving licence, and domicile certificate.

The couple has two children, a 17-year-old son studying in Class 12 and a 16-year-old daughter studying in Class 11. Police said the accused had successfully concealed his criminal past and lived a seemingly normal life for nearly three decades.

Investigators also revealed that Rajinder has a long criminal record. Besides the murder case and the escape-from-custody case, he is wanted in multiple attempt-to-murder cases registered in Delhi and Haryana. His criminal history includes cases under the Arms Act as well as theft-related offences registered in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Officials described the arrest as the culmination of a 28-year-long pursuit and a significant achievement for the Crime Branch. They said the operation demonstrates that even the most elusive fugitives can eventually be brought to justice through sustained investigative efforts and coordination among law enforcement agencies across states.

Crime

CISF seizes foreign currency worth Rs 1.13 crore at Kolkata airport

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Alert personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detected foreign currency worth approximately Rs 1.14 crore concealed in the hand baggage of two passengers bound for Bangkok at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata.

The detection took place around 10:20 a.m. on October 19 during routine security screening at the International Terminal Security Hold Area. A CISF screener noticed suspicious images in the X-ray scans of the hand baggage carried by the two passengers scheduled to travel to Bangkok on Bhutan Airlines flight B3700. The bags were subsequently referred for physical examination.

During the inspection, CISF personnel recovered USD 1,19,900, equivalent to approximately Rs 1,13,64,002, concealed inside false bottoms of the two bags. The foreign currency had been wrapped in newspaper in an apparent attempt to conceal it from security personnel.

Of the total amount recovered, USD 74,900 was found in the hand baggage of one passenger, while USD 45,000 was recovered from the other passenger’s bag.

Following the prescribed formalities, both passengers, along with the seized currency, were handed over to the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs for further investigation and necessary legal action.

On October 20, the passenger from whose baggage USD 74,900 was recovered was taken by AIU/Customs officials to the District and Sessions Court for further legal proceedings following the investigation and seizure. The second passenger was released by Customs after the issuance of a detention receipt for the USD 45,000 recovered from the passenger’s baggage.

CISF in a release reiterated its commitment to maintaining aviation security through effective screening procedures, alert surveillance and professional conduct by its personnel. According to officials, the detection stresses the importance of coordinated action between airport security personnel and Customs authorities in addressing suspected financial and currency-related violations.

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Crime

Gujarat: Man held after 0.77 grams of mephedrone found in ‘porter’ delivery parcel

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A 27-year-old businessman was arrested by Naroda police after 0.77 grams of suspected mephedrone, valued at Rs 1,540, was found in a parcel being delivered through the Porter application near Nana Chiloda Circle in Ahmedabad, police said on Wednesday.

The case came to light after police received a control-room message about a suspicious parcel that had arrived for delivery through the application.

The substance was examined preliminarily by a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officer in the presence of panch witnesses and was found to be mephedrone, a synthetic drug.

Police seized the substance and initially registered an offence against three unidentified mobile phone holders under Sections 8(c), 22(a) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

During the investigation, they traced and arrested the man suspected of ordering the consignment through the parcel.

The accused was identified as Priyang Sanghvi (27). He is a businessman who lives in Aram Park Flats in the Sabarmati area of the city. He is originally from Shirodi village in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district.

According to the police, the suspected method involved using a mobile phone number belonging to a witness to log in to the Porter application.

Drug consignments were allegedly packed separately in zipper bags and sent through the delivery service. An intermediary was allegedly used to distribute the drugs to different customers for sale.

The police said the arrest followed instructions from senior officers to curb the illegal sale and transportation of narcotic substances and detect offences related to them.

“The operation was conducted by Naroda police personnel under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector B M Katariya,” officials said.

The police seized 0.77 grams of mephedrone, valued at Rs 1,540. The investigation concerns the alleged use of a parcel delivery application to transport the substance and its subsequent distribution through an intermediary.

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Crime

Bihar: 75-year-old man stabbed to death; woman and her son injured

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A 75-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death, while a woman and her 25-year-old son were injured in a violent clash between neighbours at Rohda Kala village under Barharia police station limits in Bihar’s Siwan district on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Rama Nandan Prasad, son of the late Garib Bhagat.

The injured were identified as Baby Devi, 44, and her son Kishan Kumar, 25.

The injured were taken to the Barharia Community Health Centre for treatment. While Kishan received primary medical care, Baby Devi was referred to Siwan Sadar Hospital due to her critical condition.

According to Kishan Kumar, his grandfather was sitting outside the house drinking tea while his mother was cooking, and he was asleep.

Hearing a commotion, he went outside and found his grandfather lying in a pool of blood.

He then heard his mother crying from inside the house and rushed in, where he allegedly saw neighbours attacking her with knives. When he tried to intervene, he was also injured in the attack.

Kishan claimed that he had no prior dispute with the neighbours and said the reason for the attack was unclear.

With the help of residents, two alleged assailants were apprehended and handed over to the police.

After receiving information, the Barharia police reached the village and launched an investigation.

A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team was also called to collect evidence from the scene.

The police have set up a camp in the village amid tension following the incident.

Barharia Station House Officer Chhotan Kumar said a patrolling officer was initially sent to the spot, after which he reached the village to investigate the incident.

He said an FIR has been registered against the named accused based on Kishan Kumar’s statement.

The two detained suspects are being questioned, while the motive behind the incident remains unclear.

Police said further action would be taken based on the investigation.

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