Delhi man accused of murder found living as chole bhature vendor in UP for 20 years

PTC News Desk: After assuming a different identity in order to avoid detection by the police, a man who had been missing for 20 years in relation to the kidnapping and murder of a businessman in Delhi for ransom was apprehended close to Ramlila Maidan in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh.

An official from the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police stated that ASI Sonu Nain set up a’rehri’ next to the Ramlila Maidan in Mainpuri and pretended to be a mango vendor in order to trace the whereabouts of Sipahi Lal, also known as Gurdayal.

The police released information on the 20-year-old case, stating that on October 31, 2004, a businessman by the name of Ramesh Chand Gupta drove his Santro automobile out of his Shakarpur, Delhi, home, but he did not come back.

His brother Jagdish Kumar reported his kidnapping to the police station in Shalimar Bagh. Mr. Gupta remained unaccounted for even after his car was discovered abandoned at the Bahadurgarh police station on November 2, 2004.

Mukesh Vats was taken into custody after family members expressed suspicions.

“During questioning, Vats revealed that he abducted Gupta and killed him later with his accomplices Sipahi Lal, Shareef Khan, Kamlesh, and Rajesh,” stated Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Rakesh Pawariya.

Vats employed Shareef Khan, Kamlesh, Rajesh, and Sipahi Lal to run his vegetable business at the Azadpur Mandi.

The body was placed in a gunny bag by the accused, who then disposed of it in a drain close to Karala village.

Shareef Khan and Kamlesh were taken into custody during the inquiry from Karala, the location of Gupta’s body.

Sipahi Lal and Rajesh, however, were deemed proclaimed offenders by the court and were not subject to arrest.

“The police received a tip recently that Sipahi Lal was operating a different business selling chole bhature close to Mainpuri’s Ramlila Maidan. Under the guise of a mango vendor, ASI Sonu Nain was stationed there to track his movements and activities, according to the DCP.

Two days later, the ASI discovered that Sipahi Lal was trading chole bhature under the Gurdayal alias.

“He attempted to mislead the police by claiming to be Gurdayal when he was questioned. However, he eventually lost it and revealed his true name and identity. According to the relevant legal provisions, the offender has been taken into custody,” the DCP continued.