The NDR Unit of the Delhi Crime Branch arrested Mudit Chawla, an absconding accused wanted in a rape-at-gunpoint case registered at Dwarka North Police Station, on 29 July 2025. Chawla had allegedly been evading arrest since 2024 by shifting hideouts across multiple cities and operating under a false identity.

Nature of the Alleged Crime

According to investigators, Chawla allegedly raped a woman at gunpoint at his residence in Dwarka in July 2023, recorded obscene photographs and videos of the assault, and subsequently used the material to blackmail and sexually exploit her on multiple occasions. He allegedly threatened to circulate the recordings on social media and also compelled the survivor to perform obscene acts during video calls.

The complainant's husband had been lodged in Tihar Jail between October 2020 and August 2023 in a murder case, during which he became acquainted with Chawla. After his release, Chawla allegedly befriended the family and gained the woman's trust by presenting himself as a younger brother figure. The assault occurred when the complainant visited his residence with her three-year-old son. She alleged that Chawla threatened the child with a firearm and administered an injection to render her unconscious before committing the assault.

FIR and Court Proceedings

FIR No. 432/2024 under Sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code was registered at Dwarka North Police Station on 19 September 2024 after the survivor informed her husband and approached the police. Despite repeated efforts by local police, Chawla allegedly continued to evade arrest. A court declared him an absconder on 29 January 2025 after he persistently failed to appear.

The Arrest Operation

The Crime Branch constituted a dedicated team comprising SI Dipender Singh, Head Constables Rajbir, Ram Niwas, Parmanand, Kuldeep, and Anchal, along with Woman Constable Gyanwati. The operation was supervised by Inspectors Yogesh Kumar and Vinod Yadav, under the overall supervision of ACP Umesh Barthwal.

The team deployed technical surveillance and local intelligence gathering. A reliable informer indicated that Chawla was hiding in the Nangloi area of Delhi. The team laid a trap and apprehended him. During interrogation, Chawla initially attempted to conceal his identity — he had allegedly changed his name from Mudit Chawla to Rajvir Chawla while on the run. After sustained questioning, he disclosed his real identity and allegedly admitted involvement in the case. He was arrested under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Background and Criminal History

Chawla, a resident of Nangloi, Delhi, was born in Karol Bagh and completed his graduation in Delhi before obtaining an MBA from Pune in 2007. He reportedly worked at the Airtel head office in Okhla and later with Dell in Mohali before starting a copper wire business in Karol Bagh.

According to investigators, Chawla later developed an addiction to cricket betting and allegedly suffered losses of around ₹1 crore. To recover those losses, he reportedly began defrauding jewellers through forged cheques and became entangled in multiple criminal cases. Police records indicate that seven criminal cases have been registered against him, including cheating cases in Delhi and Maharashtra. He has also been declared a proclaimed offender in a cheating case at Sita Bardi Police Station in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Further investigation into the case is currently underway.