Lucknow builder murder accused Sanjay killed in police encounter
Synopsis
The prime accused in the contract killing of Lucknow builder Sandeep Singh — a ₹1 lakh reward-carrying fugitive wanted across three UP districts — was shot dead in an early-morning police encounter on Indira Canal Road on 27 June, weeks after the STF linked the murder to a ₹5 lakh contract rooted in a land dispute.
Key Takeaways
Sanjay alias Sanjeev , prime accused in the murder of builder Sandeep Singh , was killed in a police encounter on 27 June on Indira Canal Road, Lucknow .
He opened fire on a police team attempting to arrest him; police retaliated in self-defence.
Sanjeev carried a reward of ₹1 lakh and was accused in multiple murder cases across Ambedkar Nagar , Basti , and Ayodhya districts.
Builder Sandeep Singh was shot dead in Lucknow's PGI area on 27 May in an alleged contract killing worth ₹5 lakh , linked to a land dispute.
Alleged mastermind Dinesh Yadav was arrested earlier and remains in judicial custody.
The prime accused in the murder of Lucknow builder Sandeep Singh was shot dead in a police encounter in the early hours of Saturday, 27 June, after he opened fire on a police team attempting to arrest him, officials said. The deceased, identified as Sanjay alias Sanjeev, a native of Ambedkar Nagar district, had been carrying a reward of ₹1 lakh on his head and had remained absconding for weeks despite sustained search operations.
How the Encounter Unfolded
According to police, the encounter took place on Indira Canal Road in Lucknow during an early-morning operation to trace and apprehend Sanjeev. Officials said that when police intercepted him, he opened fire on personnel instead of surrendering. Police retaliated in self-defence, during which Sanjeev sustained bullet injuries. He was rushed to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Lucknow, where doctors declared him dead.
Background: The Builder Murder Case
Builder Sandeep Singh was shot dead in Lucknow's PGI area on 27 May, a killing that drew significant attention across Uttar Pradesh due to its alleged links to a long-standing rivalry and a property dispute. The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) stated that the murder was the result of a contract killing — a sum of ₹5 lakh was allegedly paid to eliminate the builder, rooted in a land dispute and old enmity.
Criminal History of the Accused
Sanjeev had been accused in several serious criminal cases, including multiple murders, registered across Ambedkar Nagar, Basti, and Ayodhya districts. His name surfaced during the investigation into Sandeep Singh's murder, following which police announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to his arrest. He had remained at large despite weeks of search operations.
Other Accused and Investigation Status
Police have already arrested several individuals in connection with the murder conspiracy. Dinesh Yadav, identified as the alleged mastermind behind the killing of Sandeep Singh, was arrested earlier and remains lodged in jail. Saturday's encounter closes the most wanted chapter of the case, though officials indicated further details are still being compiled.
This is the latest in a series of high-profile police encounters in Uttar Pradesh linked to organised crime and contract killings, as the state continues targeted operations against criminals with active warrants.
Point of View
But it also removes the possibility of Sanjeev standing trial and providing testimony that could have deepened the conspiracy trail. The STF has already named a mastermind in Dinesh Yadav, yet the ₹5 lakh contract angle raises questions about who commissioned the killing and whether all links in the chain have been identified. Uttar Pradesh has seen a sustained pattern of encounter killings of wanted criminals, which the state frames as self-defence but which critics argue forecloses judicial accountability. The builder murder — rooted in a land dispute — also points to a broader law-and-order concern around property crime and organised extortion in UP's urban centres.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Lucknow police encounter on 27 June?
Sanjay alias Sanjeev, the prime accused in the murder of builder Sandeep Singh, was killed in a police encounter on Indira Canal Road in Lucknow in the early hours of 27 June. He was a native of Ambedkar Nagar district and carried a reward of ₹1 lakh on his head.
Who was Sandeep Singh and how was he killed?
Sandeep Singh was a builder who was shot dead in Lucknow's PGI area on 27 May. According to the UP STF, his killing was a contract murder — a sum of ₹5 lakh was allegedly paid to eliminate him over a long-standing land dispute and personal enmity.
What criminal cases was Sanjay alias Sanjeev accused in?
Sanjeev was accused in multiple serious criminal cases, including several murders, registered across Ambedkar Nagar, Basti, and Ayodhya districts in Uttar Pradesh. His involvement in the Sandeep Singh murder emerged during the course of the investigation.
Who is Dinesh Yadav and what is his role in the case?
Dinesh Yadav has been identified by police as the alleged mastermind behind the murder of builder Sandeep Singh. He was arrested earlier in the investigation and remains lodged in jail.
What happens next in the Sandeep Singh murder case?
With Sanjeev killed in the encounter and alleged mastermind Dinesh Yadav already in custody, police say several other accused have also been arrested. Investigators are expected to consolidate the case for trial, though officials indicated further operational details are still being compiled.
