Delhi murder case: Victim's niece among 3 held in Rohini robbery
Synopsis
A primary school teacher turned alleged murder conspirator: Delhi Police say 23-year-old Simran Taneja, niece of the victim, is the prime suspect in a premeditated Rohini house robbery that left her uncle Rakesh Khanna dead. Three are in custody; a gym-owner associate remains at large.
Key Takeaways
Rakesh Khanna , approximately 60 , was found unconscious at his home in Sector 3, Rohini on 1 September and declared brought dead at Jaipur Golden Hospital .
Three accused — Simran Taneja (23, niece of the deceased), Chirag (22, gym trainer), and Paras (19, student) — have been arrested.
Simran Taneja has prima facie been identified as the alleged main conspirator; she works as a primary school teacher in Burari .
The accused allegedly conducted a recce of the house on 30 August , two days before the crime.
Approximately ₹1.5 lakh cash and gold jewellery were reportedly stolen; police have recovered around ₹70,000 and some jewellery.
Fourth accused Himanshu , a gym owner from Burari, is absconding; police raids are underway.
Delhi Police have cracked a house robbery-and-murder case in Rohini, arresting three accused — including the 23-year-old niece of the deceased — while a fourth suspect remains at large, officials said on Wednesday, 2 September. The victim, Rakesh Khanna, approximately 60 years old, was found unconscious at his residence and was declared brought dead at hospital.
How the Crime Came to Light
A PCR call was received at 8:14 pm on 1 September from House No. G-30/67-68, Sector 3, Rohini, reporting a house theft and an unconscious person on the premises. Khanna's family rushed him to Jaipur Golden Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead on arrival.
Senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Additional DCP, reached the hospital and the crime scene immediately. The site was examined jointly by the local police team, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and the Crime Team.
How the Robbery Was Executed
Preliminary investigation revealed that around 7:30 pm, three persons allegedly entered the house while a fourth kept watch outside. According to police, the group had conducted a recce of the premises on 30 August — two days before the attack — indicating premeditation.
Approximately ₹1.5 lakh in cash and an unspecified quantity of gold jewellery were reportedly taken. Police have so far recovered around ₹70,000 in cash along with some of the stolen jewellery.
Who Has Been Arrested
Three accused have been apprehended and identified as Simran Taneja, Chirag, and Paras. Police said Simran Taneja, the niece of the deceased and a resident of Burari, has prima facie emerged as the alleged main conspirator. She is a primary school teacher and the daughter of Dalip Taneja.
The second accused, Chirag, 22, son of Avdesh, works as a gym trainer at The Beast Gym in Baba Colony, Burari. The third accused, Paras, 19, son of Anil Kumar and a resident of Baba Colony, is a Class XII student. Police noted that Paras had previously been involved in a case registered at Mukherjee Nagar police station.
Fourth Accused Still Absconding
A fourth suspect, identified as Himanshu — a gym owner and resident of Burari — has been named as an alleged associate and is currently absconding. Police teams are conducting raids to trace and arrest him.
Police Supervision and Ongoing Investigation
The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order, Zone-I) Devesh Chandra Shrivastava and Joint Commissioner of Police, Northern Range, Vijay Singh. Multiple teams were deployed under DCP Rohini District Shashank Jaiswal.
Police said the role of each accused and the complete sequence of events are still being established. The investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected as the fourth accused is pursued.
Point of View
A coordinated four-person team, and a network centred on a local gym. Delhi Police's swift turnaround in less than 24 hours is notable, but the case will hinge on establishing the chain of conspiracy beyond circumstantial links — particularly with the fourth accused still at large.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Rohini robbery-murder case?
The victim is Rakesh Khanna , approximately 60 years old, who was found unconscious at his residence in Sector 3, Rohini on 1 September and was declared brought dead at Jaipur Golden Hospital. The incident was reported via a PCR call at 8:14 pm.
Who is Simran Taneja and what is her alleged role?
Simran Taneja is the 23-year-old niece of the deceased, Rakesh Khanna, and a primary school teacher from Burari. Delhi Police have prima facie identified her as the alleged main conspirator in the robbery and murder.
Who are the other accused in the case?
The other two arrested accused are Chirag, 22, a gym trainer at The Beast Gym in Baba Colony, Burari, and Paras, 19, a Class XII student from Baba Colony who had a prior case registered at Mukherjee Nagar police station. A fourth accused, Himanshu, a gym owner from Burari, is currently absconding.
How much was stolen in the Rohini robbery?
Approximately ₹1.5 lakh in cash and an unspecified quantity of gold jewellery were reportedly stolen. Police have so far recovered around ₹70,000 in cash along with some of the stolen gold jewellery.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Three accused have been arrested and police are conducting raids to apprehend the fourth suspect, Himanshu, who is absconding. The role of each accused and the full sequence of events are still being established as the investigation continues.
