New Delhi, Nov 28 (NationPress) In a significant development, the Delhi Crime Branch has successfully apprehended a Proclaimed Offender who had eluded law enforcement for an astonishing 25 years, being involved in several robbery-cum-murder cases across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

The individual, Dheeraj Tomar, also known as Raj Singh, managed to avoid capture for over two decades by assuming a new identity and distancing himself from his family.

As reported by the Crime Branch, a specialized unit from NDR/R.K. Puram, spearheaded by Inspector Rakesh Kumar, detained the 45-year-old fugitive in Sikanderpur Kalan village, Uttar Pradesh.

“The Crime Branch’s Team NDR/R.K. Puram has marked a tremendous achievement with the arrest of Proclaimed Offender Dheeraj @ Rajsingh, who had been on the run for the past 25 years,” the official press release announced.

Dheeraj was wanted in connection with FIR No. 77/2001, filed at PS New Ashok Nagar under various charges including murder, attempted murder, robbery, destruction of evidence, and conspiracy. The case dates back to March 17, 2001, when police discovered two men disposed of in a garbage yard in Mayur Vihar Phase III. While one victim died, the other survived and was hospitalized, prompting a broad investigation.

In the course of the 2001 investigation, two accomplices, Dhirendra and Dilip Negi, were arrested, whereas Dheeraj and another associate, Ajay Lamba, were declared proclaimed offenders. The two arrested individuals were later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007.

Authorities reported that the gang operated with a chilling method: they would hire taxis in different states, murder the drivers, discard the bodies in isolated mountainous areas to evade detection, and then smuggle the stolen vehicles into Nepal for sale. Dheeraj, at just 20 years old, was allegedly linked to four brutal robbery-cum-murder incidents across various states.

During questioning, Dheeraj admitted to crimes registered in Haldwani, Almora, and Lohaghat in addition to the Delhi case. The Crime Branch noted that he had been living under a false identity, Raj Singh, since his brother Dhirendra fled while on parole in 2010.

A coordinated effort involving SIs Amit Grewal and Yatender Malik, along with several Head Constables, ultimately led to his capture. The operation was overseen by ACP Umesh Barthwal.

Ongoing investigations aim to locate remaining associates, including Ajay Lamba, who remains at large.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Kumar, Crime-IV, stated that this arrest signifies a major victory in the department’s ongoing efforts to apprehend longstanding Proclaimed Offenders.