Delhi Police nab Jharkhand kidnapping-murder accused from Yamuna Bazar
Synopsis
A man who allegedly helped murder a drinking companion in a Jharkhand village and buried the body in a forest fled over 1,000 km to Delhi — only to be traced to a temple locality in Yamuna Bazar by a Crime Branch informer. The arrest, made on 24 May, highlights how coordinated inter-state police intelligence is closing the net on fugitives who assume a change of city means safety.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested Sukhdev Murmu alias Tala , approximately 30 , near Hanuman Mandir, Yamuna Bazar, Delhi on 24 May .
42/26 dated 21 May — was registered at Police Station Borio, Sahibganj, Jharkhand under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) .
Victim Champai Marandi was allegedly strangulated on 12 May ; his body was recovered from a jungle area nearly 10 days later.
Co-accused Babuji Marandi and Mangal Tudu are still at large.
Jharkhand Police took the accused on transit remand from a Delhi court following the arrest.
Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested a fugitive on 24 May who had allegedly fled to the capital after participating in the kidnapping and murder of Champai Marandi in Sahibganj district, Jharkhand. The accused, identified as Sukhdev Murmu alias Tala, approximately 30 years old, was apprehended near Hanuman Mandir, Yamuna Bazar following coordinated intelligence work between Delhi and Jharkhand Police.
Background of the Case
The case was registered as FIR No. 42/26 dated 21 May at Police Station Borio, Sahibganj, Jharkhand, under Sections 140(1), 103(1), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), after Champai Marandi went missing under suspicious circumstances. His body was subsequently recovered from a jungle area nearly 10 days after the alleged murder, following which murder charges were added to the case.
According to police, the deceased was last seen on 12 May consuming liquor with the accused persons. Investigators allege that a heated argument broke out during the drinking session, after which co-accused Babuji Marandi and Mangal Tudu allegedly strangulated Champai Marandi, with Sukhdev Murmu reportedly assisting in the act. The body was then concealed in a forested area in an alleged attempt to destroy evidence, after which the accused fled the village.
How the Arrest Was Made
Head Constable Gaurav of the Crime Branch developed credible intelligence that Sukhdev Murmu had surfaced near Hanuman Mandir in Yamuna Bazar, Delhi. The informer reportedly disclosed that the accused had confessed his involvement in the murder to certain individuals in the area. This information was verified with Sub Inspector Rohit, SHO of Police Station Borio, who confirmed both the FIR and the subsequent addition of murder charges.
Acting on the verified inputs, the Crime Branch mounted sustained surveillance and technical monitoring near the location. The accused was apprehended at approximately 11 am on 24 May at the instance of the secret informer. He was arrested under Section 35.1(A) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) at the Crime Branch police station.
The Operation Team
The arrest operation was executed by a team comprising SI Mohit, SI Dinesh, HC Pankaj, HC Ankur, HC Harender, HC Karamjeet, HC Gaurav, and HC Ashwani, led by Inspector Vinay Kumar. The operation was conducted under the close supervision of ACP Satendra Mohan, ACP/Central Range/Crime, and senior Crime Branch officers.
Transit Remand and Next Steps
Following the arrest, Jharkhand Police were immediately informed. A police team from Jharkhand subsequently arrived in Delhi and took the accused on transit remand from the court. According to police, Sukhdev Murmu is a native of Sahibganj district and works as a farm labourer. He is reportedly illiterate and allegedly addicted to alcohol. Co-accused Babuji Marandi and Mangal Tudu remain at large, and the investigation is ongoing.
Point of View
Assumes that distance and anonymity in a metropolis will provide cover, and underestimates the reach of coordinated inter-state policing. What stands out here is the role of human intelligence — it was a street-level informer, not digital surveillance, that cracked the case. With co-accused Babuji Marandi and Mangal Tudu still absconding, the arrest is a beginning, not a conclusion. The speed of the transit remand suggests Jharkhand Police are keen to control the narrative of the investigation before it fragments across jurisdictions.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by Delhi Police in the Jharkhand kidnapping-murder case?
Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested Sukhdev Murmu alias Tala, approximately 30 years old and a native of Sahibganj district, Jharkhand. He was apprehended near Hanuman Mandir, Yamuna Bazar, Delhi on 24 May after allegedly fleeing the state following the murder of Champai Marandi.
What is the Champai Marandi murder case?
Champai Marandi went missing under suspicious circumstances in Sahibganj, Jharkhand, prompting FIR No. 42/26 on 21 May at Police Station Borio. His body was recovered from a jungle area nearly 10 days after the alleged murder on 12 May, after which murder charges were added to the original kidnapping case.
How did Delhi Police trace the accused?
Head Constable Gaurav of the Crime Branch developed credible intelligence through a secret informer that Sukhdev Murmu had surfaced near Hanuman Mandir, Yamuna Bazar. The tip was verified with Jharkhand Police before the Crime Branch mounted surveillance and arrested him at around 11 am on 24 May.
Are there other accused still at large in this case?
Yes. Co-accused Babuji Marandi and Mangal Tudu, who are allegedly the principal perpetrators of the strangulation, remain absconding. Jharkhand Police have taken Sukhdev Murmu on transit remand and the investigation is continuing.
What charges has Sukhdev Murmu been arrested under?
Sukhdev Murmu was arrested under Section 35.1(A) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The underlying FIR invokes Sections 140(1), 103(1), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering kidnapping and murder.
