Delhi Police arrests 1998 Daryaganj murder convict after 1-year parole jump
Synopsis
A life convict who slipped through the cracks for over a year — hiding in plain sight in Old Delhi, running a butcher shop — has been brought to justice. Mohammad Nawab's arrest closes a 27-year-old murder case that saw the Delhi High Court uphold his conviction in 2025, only for him to vanish rather than surrender.
Key Takeaways
Mohammad Nawab (52), convicted for the 1998 Daryaganj murder , was arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on 30 April .
Nawab had absconded for over a year after the Delhi High Court dismissed his appeal in 2025 and directed him to surrender at Tihar Jail .
He was hiding in the Kasabpura area of Sadar Bazaar , Old Delhi, and running a rented butcher shop.
The arrest was led by Inspector Mahipal Singh under the supervision of ACP Satendra Mohan , using technical surveillance.
Nawab has prior convictions in three Arms Act cases and has now been formally lodged in Tihar Jail .
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested Mohammad Nawab (52), a life convict in a 1998 Daryaganj murder case, after he absconded for over a year following the dismissal of his appeal by the Delhi High Court in 2025. Officials confirmed the arrest on Thursday, 30 April, ending a prolonged hunt for the fugitive who had been declared a parole jumper by jail authorities.
Background: The 1998 Daryaganj Murder
The case traces back to the intervening night of 29–30 November 1998, when Nawab allegedly attacked a rickshaw puller identified as Giani near Delhi Gate in the Daryaganj area at around 2 am. According to police, the assault was triggered after the victim refused to ferry Nawab home. In a fit of rage, Nawab reportedly abused Giani, threw him to the ground, and repeatedly struck him on the head with a stone while threatening to kill him.
An eyewitness, Harpal Singh, raised an alarm and alerted the police. A PCR van and local officials reached the spot, apprehending Nawab as he attempted to flee. The victim was rushed to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later that morning. A case under FIR No. 924/98, Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, was registered. After trial, Nawab was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
How Nawab Evaded Authorities
Nawab had been released on bail while his appeal was pending before the Delhi High Court. When the High Court upheld his conviction in 2025 and directed him to surrender at Tihar Jail, he failed to comply and went into hiding. Jail authorities subsequently declared him a parole jumper. According to police, Nawab relocated to the Kasabpura area of Sadar Bazaar in Old Delhi, where he ran a rented butcher shop after abandoning his residence in Ranjeet Nagar.
The Arrest Operation
A dedicated team from the Central Range of Crime Branch, led by Inspector Mahipal Singh and supervised by ACP Satendra Mohan, was tasked with tracing the fugitive. Head Constable Vinod and other team members conducted extensive fieldwork, developing intelligence inputs that pointed to Nawab's presence in the Kasabpura area. His movements were tracked through technical surveillance, and he was ultimately apprehended from the Ranjeet Nagar area while reportedly on his way to meet family members.
Convict's Criminal History
Officials revealed that Nawab was not a first-time offender. He had been previously involved in three cases under the Arms Act and had been convicted in all of them. He has now been formally lodged in Tihar Jail. This case underscores the persistent challenge authorities face in ensuring that bail-released convicts comply with court directions to surrender, particularly in long-pending criminal appeals.
Point of View
Convicted in multiple cases including murder, remain at large in the same city for over 12 months? The Delhi High Court had done its part by upholding the conviction — the failure was systemic, in the gap between judicial direction and enforcement follow-through. His ability to operate a business openly in Old Delhi suggests the fugitive-tracking mechanism needs sharper teeth, not just reactive task forces after the fact.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mohammad Nawab and why was he arrested?
Mohammad Nawab is a 52-year-old resident of Ranjeet Nagar, New Delhi, convicted for the 1998 murder of a rickshaw puller near Delhi Gate in the Daryaganj area. He was arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on 30 April after absconding for over a year when the Delhi High Court dismissed his appeal in 2025 and ordered him to surrender at Tihar Jail.
What was the 1998 Daryaganj murder case?
On the night of 29–30 November 1998, Mohammad Nawab allegedly assaulted rickshaw puller Giani near Delhi Gate after the victim refused to take him home. Nawab reportedly struck him repeatedly on the head with a stone; the victim later died at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital. A case under FIR No. 924/98, Section 302 IPC, was registered and Nawab was eventually convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Why was Nawab declared a parole jumper?
Nawab had been released on bail while his appeal was pending before the Delhi High Court. When the court dismissed his appeal in 2025 and directed him to surrender at Tihar Jail, he failed to comply. Jail authorities subsequently declared him a parole jumper, triggering the Crime Branch manhunt.
Where was Mohammad Nawab hiding and how was he caught?
Nawab was hiding in the Kasabpura area of Sadar Bazaar in Old Delhi, where he ran a rented butcher shop. The Crime Branch team, led by Inspector Mahipal Singh and supervised by ACP Satendra Mohan, tracked his movements through technical surveillance and arrested him in the Ranjeet Nagar area while he was reportedly heading to meet family members.
Does Mohammad Nawab have any other criminal cases?
Yes. According to police, Nawab was previously involved in three cases under the Arms Act and had been convicted in all of them. He has now been formally lodged in Tihar Jail following his arrest in the Daryaganj murder case.
