Bihar fugitive Raja Jha held in Surat after 3 years on the run
Synopsis
After three years on the run, Bihar murder accused Raja Jha was tracked to a rooftop room in Surat's Udhna area by the city's Special Operations Group. Wanted in four cases — including a 2023 axe murder where the victim's body was buried in a field — his arrest highlights the growing reach of inter-state fugitive-tracking operations.
Key Takeaways
Raja Jha , a fugitive from Begusarai, Bihar , was arrested by Surat City Police's SOG from the Udhna area on 29 May .
He had been absconding for approximately three years and was wanted in four criminal cases , including murder.
The victim, Rohini Nandan, 28 , was allegedly abducted and killed with an axe on 24 August 2023 ; his body was buried in agricultural land in Begusarai .
The operation was led under Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot , DCP Rajdipsinh Nakum , and PI A.S.
Raja Jha has been handed over to Bihar Police for further legal proceedings.
A Bihar fugitive wanted in connection with murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping cases has been arrested by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Surat City Police from the Udhna area of Surat, officials confirmed on Friday, 29 May. The accused, Raja Jha, had been absconding for approximately three years before his capture.
Who Was Arrested and Where
Raja Jha, originally from Vikrampur village under Cheria Bariarpur police station limits in Begusarai district, Bihar, was traced to a room on the terrace of Vipul Fashion shop on Udhna Station Road No. 3 in Surat. Acting on a specific intelligence input, SOG teams placed the location under surveillance and apprehended him without incident.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Surat City Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajdipsinh Nakum, and Police Inspector A.S. Sonara, according to police.
Criminal Cases Registered Against the Accused
According to officials, Raja Jha was wanted in four criminal cases registered across different police stations in Begusarai district. These include a case at Chhaurahi police station under Sections 302, 201, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), relating to murder and destruction of evidence. Three additional cases were registered at Cheria Bariarpur police station — one under Sections 341, 324, 307, 504, 506 and 34 of the IPC; another under Sections 109(1), 126(2), 115(2), 352 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with Section 27 of the Arms Act; and a further case under Sections 87 and 3(5) of the BNS.
The Crime: A Buried Body and a Night Attack
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the accused was allegedly involved in a case dating back to August 2023, when a buried body was recovered from agricultural land in Begusarai district. The deceased was identified as Rohini Nandan, 28, a resident of Vikrampur village.
According to investigators, in May 2023, associates linked to the accused allegedly entered the victim's house at night with the intent of committing theft. When the victim's brother, Jankinandan, raised an alarm, he was allegedly attacked with sharp weapons, sustaining serious injuries. A complaint was subsequently lodged by the victim's mother, Karidevi, at Cheria Bariarpur police station.
Notably, police stated that after the case was registered, co-accused individuals allegedly attempted to pressure the victim's family into reaching a compromise, which was refused. The deceased had previously been involved in theft and robbery cases and was known locally — a background that, according to investigators, contributed to prior enmity between the parties.
How the Murder Allegedly Unfolded
As per interrogation details, the accused allegedly admitted that on 24 August 2023, the victim was lured to Moiyu Vinpur (Naya Nagar) via a phone call. He was then allegedly abducted in a four-wheeler vehicle, assaulted during transit, and taken to a secluded area in Shyampur, where he was fatally attacked with an axe. The body was subsequently buried at the spot before the accused and associates fled.
What Happens Next
Following his arrest in Surat, Raja Jha has been handed over to Bihar Police for further legal proceedings in the pending cases, officials confirmed. The case underscores the cross-state coordination between Surat City Police's SOG and Bihar authorities in tracking long-absconding accused.
Point of View
But the case also illustrates a systemic gap — Bihar's four pending cases against the accused did not trigger a faster nationwide alert. As India's criminal justice system transitions to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the parallel invocation of both old IPC and new BNS provisions in this single case points to the transitional legal complexity that courts and investigators will navigate for years.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Raja Jha and why was he wanted?
Raja Jha is a Bihar native from Vikrampur village, Begusarai district, wanted in four criminal cases including murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping. He had been absconding for approximately three years before his arrest in Surat on 29 May.
What is the murder case linked to Raja Jha?
According to investigators, Raja Jha allegedly lured victim Rohini Nandan, 28, via a phone call on 24 August 2023, abducted him in a vehicle, and fatally attacked him with an axe in a secluded area in Shyampur, Begusarai. The body was subsequently buried in agricultural land and later recovered by police.
How did Surat Police track down Raja Jha?
The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Surat City Police acted on a specific intelligence input and placed a room on the terrace of Vipul Fashion shop on Udhna Station Road No. 3 under surveillance, apprehending Raja Jha without incident.
What happens to Raja Jha now?
Following his arrest in Surat, Raja Jha has been handed over to Bihar Police for further legal proceedings in the four pending criminal cases registered against him in Begusarai district.
Which laws were invoked against the accused?
The cases against Raja Jha invoke both the Indian Penal Code (IPC) — including Sections 302, 307, and 201 — and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 27 of the Arms Act, reflecting the transitional legal framework currently in use across Indian courts.
