Delhi Police arrests 2020 Jahangir Puri murder accused after 6 years
Synopsis
Six years after a deadly brawl over meat prices in Jahangir Puri left a man dead, Delhi Police's Crime Branch tracked down the last absconding accused — Md. Sheikh Shabbir — hiding in Kanjhawala, using technical surveillance and ground intelligence under Operation Kavach.
Key Takeaways
Sheikh Shabbir , 35 , the main accused in a 2020 murder case , was arrested from Kanjhawala on 25 September 2026 .
He had been absconding for nearly six years , frequently changing his residence to evade arrest.
The arrest was made under Operation Kavach by the Delhi Police Crime Branch , led by Inspector Pankaj Thakran under ACP Ashok Sharma .
The murder victim, Siraj Ali , 35 , was fatally assaulted with iron rods and wooden sticks at his meat shop in Jahangir Puri on 29 April 2020 .
231/2020 was filed under Sections 302, 323, and 34 of the IPC; all other accused had been arrested earlier.
Shabbir had prior cases at Mangol Puri and K.N.
Katju Marg police stations.
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested Md. Sheikh Shabbir, 35, the main accused in a 2020 murder case registered at Jahangir Puri Police Station, after he spent nearly six years on the run — frequently shifting his place of residence to dodge investigators. He was apprehended from Kanjhawala on 25 September 2026 under Operation Kavach, a Delhi Police initiative targeting long-absconding criminals involved in serious offences.
How the Arrest Was Made
The breakthrough came through the work of Inspector Pankaj Thakran of the NR-1 unit of the Crime Branch, whose team had been actively tracing accused in murder and dacoity cases. Constable Ankush developed specific intelligence placing Shabbir in Kanjhawala Gaon, which was subsequently confirmed through field verification and technical surveillance.
A coordinated raiding party — comprising SI Bhagyashri, ASI Anil, ASI Sumit, ASI Ajay, and Constable Ankush, led by Inspector Pankaj Thakran — was constituted under the supervision of ACP Ashok Sharma. The team moved on Kanjhawala on 25 September and successfully detained Shabbir.
The 2020 Murder That Triggered the Case
The case traces back to 29 April 2020, when Siraj Ali, 35, was working at his meat shop at Jhuggi No. G-636 in Jahangir Puri. An argument over meat prices erupted between Siraj Ali and one Shah Alam, son of Sheikh Jahoor. The dispute quickly turned violent: Shah Alam, along with associates including Shabbir, Siraj, Salim, Jahoor, and Shakil, allegedly assaulted the victim with iron rods and wooden sticks. Siraj Ali sustained critical injuries and subsequently succumbed to them.
FIR No. 231/2020 was registered at Jahangir Puri Police Station on 29 April 2020 under Sections 302, 323, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. While the other accused were arrested during the investigation, Shabbir evaded capture by repeatedly changing his place of stay.
Background on the Accused
Shabbir, a resident of Jahangir Puri, studied up to Class 12 and was working as a scrap dealer in the Kanjhawala area at the time of his arrest. According to police, he reportedly fell into bad company during his early teenage years and was also addicted to alcohol. He was previously implicated in two other cases registered at Mangol Puri and K.N. Katju Marg police stations under various sections of the IPC.
Operation Kavach and the Broader Push
Shabbir's arrest is part of Operation Kavach, launched by the Delhi Police to systematically identify and apprehend hardcore criminals who have remained at large after being charged in serious cases. The operation has so far focused on individuals wanted in murder and dacoity matters. Officials said the use of technical surveillance alongside ground-level intelligence was central to tracking Shabbir across his multiple hideouts over the course of six years.
With Shabbir now in custody, police are expected to file a charge sheet update before the relevant court as the case moves toward trial.
Point of View
And how quickly.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Md. Sheikh Shabbir and why was he arrested?
Md. Sheikh Shabbir, 35, is the main accused in a 2020 murder case from Jahangir Puri, New Delhi, where a man named Siraj Ali was allegedly beaten to death with iron rods and wooden sticks. He was arrested on 25 September 2026 from Kanjhawala by the Delhi Police Crime Branch after nearly six years on the run.
What is Operation Kavach?
Operation Kavach is a Delhi Police initiative designed to identify and apprehend hardcore criminals who have been absconding for extended periods in serious offences such as murder and dacoity. The operation uses a combination of ground-level intelligence and technical surveillance to locate fugitives.
What happened in the original 2020 murder case?
On 29 April 2020, Siraj Ali was allegedly assaulted by Shah Alam and his associates — including Shabbir — with iron rods and wooden sticks at his meat shop in Jahangir Puri, following a dispute over meat prices. Ali succumbed to his injuries, leading to FIR No. 231/2020 under Sections 302, 323, and 34 of the IPC.
How did the Delhi Police locate Shabbir after six years?
Constable Ankush developed specific intelligence indicating that Shabbir was hiding in Kanjhawala Gaon. This tip was verified through field checks and technical surveillance before a coordinated raid on 25 September 2026 led to his arrest.
What happens next in the case?
With Shabbir now in custody, police are expected to update the charge sheet before the concerned court. He was the last remaining absconding accused in the case; all other co-accused had been arrested during the original investigation.
