Cab driver murder case solved within 24 hours: Delhi Police nab 3, including juvenile

New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) Delhi Police have cracked the sensational murder of a 40-year-old cab driver within 24 hours of the crime, arresting two accused and detaining a juvenile, while identifying a fourth suspect who remains absconding. The police have also recovered the alleged murder weapon, blood-stained clothes, the victim’s vehicle and other crucial evidence linked to the crime.

According to a press statement on Sunday, the case came to light after a PCR call was received on July 23 regarding a man with multiple stab injuries lying inside a car near Road No. 57, close to Metro Pillar No. 90 in Krishna Nagar.

Acting promptly, a team led by Inspector Vijender Rana, Station House Officer (SHO) of Krishna Nagar Police Station, along with Inspector Mahesh Bhargava, Sub Inspector Avaneesh Kumar and other police personnel, rushed to the spot. They found a blood-stained car parked on the roadside. A man was discovered unconscious in the driver’s seat with multiple stab wounds.

The victim was immediately shifted to Dr Hedgewar Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. He was later identified as Vijay Kumar, 40, a resident of West Vinod Nagar in East Delhi.

Given the brutal nature of the murder, senior officers of Shahdara District personally supervised the investigation. A Crime Team and forensic experts examined the scene in detail, collecting blood samples, biological exhibits and other forensic evidence. Based on the findings, an FIR was registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Krishna Nagar Police Station on July 24, and the investigation was assigned to Inspector Mahesh Bhargava.

To ensure a swift breakthrough, two dedicated teams were constituted under the supervision of the ACP, Gandhi Nagar, and the overall guidance of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Shahdara. One team comprised officers from Krishna Nagar Police Station, while the other consisted of personnel from the Special Staff of Shahdara District.

Police said the breakthrough was achieved through a combination of CCTV footage analysis, technical surveillance, call detail record (CDR) analysis and local intelligence. Investigators meticulously tracked the movement of the suspects from the crime scene to New Seelampur, which ultimately led to their identification.

Based on the technical evidence and surveillance inputs, police carried out coordinated raids at multiple locations across Delhi. Within 24 hours of the murder, three accused were apprehended despite their attempts to evade arrest. The fourth accused has been identified, and raids are continuing to secure his arrest.

The arrested accused have been identified as Ayan, 20, a resident of New Seelampur; Sahil, about 19, from K-Block, New Seelampur; and a 17-year-old juvenile identified as “OT” in police records. Police said Ayan has a criminal history involving four previous cases, including robbery and snatching, while Sahil has previously been booked in a snatching case. The fourth accused, Aman, has been identified and remains absconding.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly revealed that Ayan had an ongoing rivalry with a group of youths from Jafrabad. According to police, Ayan asked Aman to arrange a knife, which was procured and handed over to him on July 23.

Later that day, Ayan, Sahil, the juvenile and Aman allegedly consumed liquor together before conspiring to rob a cab driver for quick money. Investigators said Aman booked a Rapido cab to V3S Mall using Ayan’s mobile phone, after which all four boarded the vehicle.

Police said that near the Chitra Vihar Red Light, the accused allegedly stabbed the driver multiple times before fleeing with the cab. However, after members of the public reportedly chased them, they abandoned the vehicle near East Azad Nagar Metro Station and escaped.

During questioning, the accused allegedly confessed to jointly planning and executing the robbery and murder.

As part of the investigation, police recovered the alleged murder weapon, a knife believed to have been used in the attack, the blood-stained car, blood-stained clothes worn by the accused, biological samples, mobile phones allegedly used during the commission of the crime and other incriminating evidence. Investigators said further recoveries are expected as the probe progresses.

Police said the investigation revealed that all four accused were close associates living in New Seelampur. After consuming liquor together, they allegedly conspired to rob a cab driver for easy money, arranged weapons in advance, booked a cab through an online platform and targeted an unsuspecting driver before carrying out the robbery-cum-murder in a pre-planned manner.

–IANS

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