Delhi Police Capture Notorious Fugitive After 28 Years on the Run

In a significant breakthrough, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested Rajinder Bairagi, a fugitive who had been evading law enforcement for nearly 28 years. Wanted for serious crimes including the murder of a Haryana police officer, Rajinder's capture followed extensive operations across multiple states. After escaping police custody in 1999, he assumed a new identity and lived under the radar, even working as a teacher. This article delves into the details of his criminal background and the circumstances surrounding his arrest.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 6, 2026, 13:38 IST

Fugitive Arrested by Delhi Police's Crime Branch

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has apprehended a 53-year-old fugitive who had been evading capture for nearly 28 years. This individual was wanted for the murder of a Haryana police officer, multiple attempted murder cases, and escaping police custody while handcuffed. Authorities identified the suspect as Rajinder Bairagi, also known as Rajinder Singh Yadav or Dr. Jhatka. He was arrested in Mungawali, located in Madhya Pradesh's Ashok Nagar district, following operations conducted across several states by the Northern Range-1 (NR-1) team of the Crime Branch.

According to police reports, Rajinder was a suspect in the 1998 murder of Haryana police officer Jai Bhagwan, which occurred during a wedding celebration in Sonipat. He also faced several attempted murder charges in both Delhi and Haryana.

Details of the Arrest

Police revealed that Rajinder escaped from Uttar Pradesh police custody at the Gannaur railway station while being transported to a court in Sonipat in February 1999. Since then, he had been on the run. The Crime Branch utilized field intelligence and technical surveillance to confirm his identity and locate him. Based on gathered intelligence, they conducted a raid in Mungawali, where he was ultimately captured.

During interrogation, Rajinder allegedly disclosed that after fleeing custody, he spent some time in Maharashtra, where he worked as a physical education teacher at a central school. He later settled in Madhya Pradesh, adopted the identity of Rajinder Singh Yadav, and began working as a property dealer and an unregistered doctor known as Dr. Jhatka.

False Identities and Criminal Background

Authorities noted that he had acquired local identification documents, including an Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, and a driving license. According to Delhi Police, Rajinder had been declared a 'proclaimed offender' in several cases, including two attempted murder charges filed at the Janakpuri police station in Delhi and a murder case registered at the Gannaur police station in Haryana.