Delhi Police Arrest Fugitive Murder Accused After 28 Years, Suspect Allegedly Lived Under New Identity in Madhya Pradesh

Yugcharan News | 06-08-2026

In a major breakthrough for law enforcement agencies, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a fugitive who had allegedly remained on the run for nearly 28 years after escaping police custody. The accused, wanted in multiple criminal cases including the alleged murder of a Haryana Police official, was apprehended from Madhya Pradesh following an extensive investigation that uncovered a carefully constructed new identity and an entirely different life.

Police officials said the accused had managed to evade authorities for almost three decades by changing his name, relocating to another state and integrating himself into society through various occupations. During this period, he reportedly worked as a teacher, property dealer, contractor and even operated as an unregistered medical practitioner while using locally obtained identity documents.

The arrest marks the conclusion of one of the longest manhunts connected to an absconding accused wanted in serious criminal cases and highlights the continuing efforts of investigative agencies to trace proclaimed offenders, regardless of the time elapsed.

Arrest After Nearly Three Decades

According to Delhi Police, the accused, identified as Rajinder Bairagi, also allegedly used multiple aliases, including Rajinder Singh Yadav and "Dr Jhatka," to conceal his identity while living in Madhya Pradesh.

Officials stated that the accused had been absconding since 1999 after reportedly escaping from Uttar Pradesh Police custody while being transported from Ghaziabad Jail to a court in Haryana.

The Crime Branch launched a focused operation aimed at locating long-absconding proclaimed offenders involved in serious criminal cases. During the investigation, officers reopened old case files and gradually uncovered links that eventually led them to the suspect's whereabouts.

Following surveillance, field intelligence and verification of multiple identity records, a police team traced the accused to Mungaoli in Madhya Pradesh's Ashok Nagar district, where he was taken into custody.

After his arrest, he was produced before a local court, and police obtained transit remand to bring him to Delhi for further legal proceedings.

Old Criminal Cases Reopened

Police officials stated that the investigation initially centred around two criminal cases registered in 1997 at Janakpuri Police Station in Delhi.

One case reportedly involved a violent knife attack during a dispute in Uttam Nagar, while another concerned an attempt-to-murder case. In both matters, the accused had earlier been declared a proclaimed offender by the Rohini Courts after failing to appear before judicial authorities.

As investigators examined his criminal background in greater detail, they allegedly discovered his involvement in more serious offences, including the killing of a serving Haryana Police official during a wedding-related incident.

This development prompted investigators to expand their search beyond Delhi, eventually leading them to Madhya Pradesh.

Alleged Murder During Wedding Ceremony

According to police, one of the most serious allegations against the accused relates to an incident that occurred in May 1998 in Haryana's Sonipat district.

Investigators alleged that a dispute broke out during a wedding function, after which the accused and several associates allegedly opened fire.

Police claimed that a Haryana Police official, identified as Jai Bhagwan, sustained fatal gunshot injuries during the firing and died at the scene. Another individual was reportedly seriously injured in the incident.

Following the case, the accused was arrested. However, authorities alleged that he later escaped while being transported under police custody.

It is important to note that these allegations remain part of ongoing legal proceedings, and the accused is entitled to due process under the law.

Escape from Police Custody

Investigators said the accused allegedly escaped on February 14, 1999, while being escorted by Uttar Pradesh Police personnel from Ghaziabad Jail to Sonipat Court.

Despite reportedly being handcuffed during transit, he allegedly managed to flee near Ganaur Railway Station, triggering a massive search operation that ultimately remained unsuccessful for decades.

Following the escape, authorities across multiple states continued efforts to trace him, but he successfully avoided arrest by frequently changing locations and identities.

Reinventing Life Under a New Identity

Police said that after escaping custody, the accused allegedly travelled to Maharashtra, where he briefly worked as a physical education teacher at a Kendriya Vidyalaya.

He later shifted permanently to Mungaoli in Madhya Pradesh and allegedly adopted the identity of Rajender Singh Yadav.

According to investigators, he gradually established himself within the local community through various occupations, including property dealing and construction-related work.

Police further alleged that he also operated a small clinic despite not being a registered medical practitioner. Local residents reportedly knew him by the nickname "Dr Jhatka."

Officials stated that over the years he acquired several official-looking identity documents under his assumed identity, including an Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter identification card, domicile certificate and driving licence.

The acquisition of these documents reportedly helped him avoid suspicion while living openly for many years.

Family Life During Years in Hiding

Police said the accused married in 2003 while living under his assumed identity.

His wife reportedly works as an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) in a government healthcare facility in Madhya Pradesh.

The couple has two children, both of whom are students.

Investigators indicated that he had become a recognised member of the local community, making the investigation particularly challenging because neighbours reportedly knew him only through his assumed identity.

Intelligence-Based Investigation Led to Arrest

Delhi Police officials credited sustained intelligence gathering and field verification for the successful operation.

Investigators reportedly spent considerable time confirming the suspect's real identity because he had successfully established a new life supported by multiple local documents.

Officials said they relied on human intelligence, document verification and surveillance before finally locating and apprehending him.

The operation demonstrates how long-term investigations increasingly depend on coordinated intelligence gathering, inter-state cooperation and detailed verification of historical records.

Legal Proceedings to Continue

Following his arrest, the accused will now face legal proceedings related to the pending criminal cases registered against him.

Authorities are expected to present him before the appropriate court, where investigations into the pending allegations and his prolonged absconding will continue according to legal procedures.

Police may also examine how official identification documents were obtained under the alleged assumed identity and whether additional offences relating to identity fraud or forgery require further investigation.

Significance of the Arrest

Law enforcement agencies described the arrest as a significant achievement in their campaign against long-absconding proclaimed offenders.

Officials stated that even after several decades, investigations into serious criminal offences remain active, and advances in intelligence gathering and coordinated policing continue to improve the ability to locate fugitives who attempt to evade justice.

The case also illustrates the challenges investigators face when suspects successfully establish new identities across state boundaries while maintaining seemingly ordinary lives.

As legal proceedings move forward, authorities are expected to continue examining every aspect of the case, including the accused's alleged activities during the nearly three decades he remained beyond the reach of law enforcement.