The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a 53-year-old proclaimed offender who allegedly evaded arrest for nearly 28 years after escaping from police custody in handcuffs and later built a new life in Madhya Pradesh under a different identity.
Rajinder Bairagi alias Rajinder Singh Yadav alias ‘Dr Jhatka’ was wanted in connection with the murder of Haryana Police personnel Jai Bhagwan, multiple attempt-to-murder and assault cases in Delhi and Haryana, and a case related to his escape from lawful police custody.
The arrest was made by Crime Branch in Mungaoli, Ashok Nagar district, Madhya Pradesh, as part of a drive to trace long-absconding proclaimed offenders involved in heinous crimes in Delhi.
CRIME BRANCH TRACES 28-YEAR-OLD TRAIL
The operation initially focused on two long-pending cases registered at Delhi’s Janakpuri police station on June 22, 1997.
FIRs were registered in connection with a violent knife attack during a quarrel and in an attempt-to-murder case.
Rajinder continued to evade arrest and was declared a proclaimed offender by the Rohini Courts in 2008 in both cases.
As the Crime Branch investigated his antecedents, officers found that he allegedly had a more serious criminal history. He was also wanted in the murder of Haryana Police personnel Jai Bhagwan and had previously escaped from UP Police custody.
The team faced the challenge of establishing his identity because Rajinder had allegedly created a new identity and obtained local documents in Madhya Pradesh.
HC Sanjeev Kumar gathered field intelligence, while SI Narender Singh conducted technical surveillance and analysed his digital footprints. The team eventually confirmed his identity, mapped his daily routine and traced his location to Mungaoli.
A raiding team led by Inspector Sanjay Kaushik, comprising SI Deepak Kumar, ASI Ramesh Rana, HC Sanjeev Kumar and HC Sanjeev Jakhar, then conducted a targeted raid in Mungaoli.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Suresh Kumar, ACP/Northern Range-1, Crime Branch, and the overall supervision of DCP Crime Branch Chander Kumar Singh.
Police caught Rajinder and produced him before the Judicial Magistrate Court in Mungaoli. The court granted transit remand so that he could be produced before the CJM Court, Dwarka, Delhi.
ROLE IN HARYANA POLICE PERSONNEL’S MURDER
During interrogation, Rajinder allegedly told police that he had been a kabaddi player before becoming associated with criminal elements.
According to the police, on the night of May 10, 1998, Rajinder and five armed accomplices attended a wedding function in Village Saiyan Khera, Sonipat. A quarrel broke out with members of the bride’s family, following which the group allegedly opened indiscriminate fire with pistols.
Haryana Police official Jai Bhagwan, who was the bride’s uncle, suffered fatal gunshot wounds and died at the spot. Another person sustained critical injuries.
Rajinder was later arrested. However, on February 14, 1999, while UP Police personnel were escorting him from Ghaziabad Jail to the Sonipat Court, he escaped from custody despite being handcuffed and restrained.
Police subsequently registered an FIR under Sections 223 and 224 of the IPC over the escape.
FROM FUGITIVE TO ‘DR JHATKA’
After escaping custody in 1999, Rajinder allegedly disguised himself in Kolaba, Maharashtra, where he worked as a physical education teacher at a Kendriya Vidyalaya for a year.
He subsequently moved permanently to Mungaoli in Madhya Pradesh and allegedly changed his name to Rajender Singh Yadav.
In 2003, he married Mamta Yadav, who currently works as an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) at a government hospital in Mungaoli.
Police said Rajinder gradually integrated himself into the local community. He started working as an unregistered doctor, becoming known locally as ‘Dr Jhatka’, while also working as a property dealer. He continued these activities and operated his own small clinic.
According to the Crime Branch, Rajinder obtained several local identity documents, including a domicile certificate, Aadhaar Card, driving licence, PAN Card and Voter ID.
He and his wife have two children: a 17-year-old son studying in Class 12 and a 16-year-old daughter studying in Class 11.
The Crime Branch said the arrest brings an end to its nearly 28-year manhunt for Rajinder, who allegedly assumed a new identity and remained in Madhya Pradesh for years.
Further interrogation is underway to ascertain his involvement in other cases, police said.
DCP Crime Branch Chander Kumar Singh said the arrest demonstrates the Crime Branch’s commitment to tracing offenders who attempt to evade justice for decades.
– Ends
Published By:
Akshat Trivedi
Published On:
Aug 8, 2026 20:11 IST
