Delhi Police nab 2 proclaimed offenders after 17 years in 2007 murder bid case
Synopsis
Two men who jumped bail in a 2007 attempt-to-murder case and evaded Delhi Police for nearly 17 years — one by living under a completely fabricated identity — were arrested in simultaneous raids across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The case is a reminder of how long India's proclaimed-offender lists can remain unresolved, and how fugitives exploit identity gaps in the system.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested Iqbal Singh alias Palla, 46 , and Bhupender Singh alias Lovely, 47 on 25 July 2025 in simultaneous raids.
Both were wanted under FIR No.
237/2007 for attempt to murder at Patel Nagar Police Station and had been declared proclaimed offenders by court in 2009 and 2010 .
Bhupender Singh had assumed the fake identity of Chander Pal, son of Babu Ram , and was living in Mayur Vihar, Delhi .
Iqbal Singh has 15 previous criminal cases ; Bhupender Singh has 6 previous cases across Arms Act, Gambling Act, theft, and attempt to murder.
Both have been sent to Tihar Jail ; proceedings under Sections 174A and 229A IPC are being initiated.
Delhi Police's Crime Branch on Monday, 27 July 2025, arrested two proclaimed offenders who had been absconding for nearly 17 years in connection with a 2007 attempt-to-murder case registered at Patel Nagar Police Station. One of the accused had allegedly assumed a false identity to evade law enforcement, living under a fabricated name in Delhi's Mayur Vihar.
Who Was Arrested and Where
The two accused have been identified as Iqbal Singh alias Palla, 46, and Bhupender Singh alias Lovely, 47. They were apprehended in a coordinated operation by the Anti-Robbery and Snatching Cell (ARSC) of the Crime Branch — Iqbal Singh from Bilaspur in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district, and Bhupender Singh from Mayur Vihar, Delhi.
Both men were wanted under FIR No. 237/2007, registered under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. Courts had declared them proclaimed offenders in 2009 and 2010 respectively, after they jumped bail and failed to appear before the court.
The 2007 Attack: What the Case Is About
According to police, the case originated from a family dispute rooted in a marriage. Bhupender Singh had married the sister of Amarjit Singh, who allegedly opposed the union, creating long-standing hostility between the two families.
On 11 April 2007, the rivalry allegedly turned violent. Iqbal Singh, along with Bhupender Singh and an associate, Chattar Singh, allegedly attacked Amarjit Singh in the Patel Nagar area using a wooden plank and an iron pipe, inflicting grievous injuries in what police described as an attempt to kill him. Iqbal Singh was arrested on 16 April 2007 and Bhupender Singh on 28 May 2007; both secured bail but never appeared before the court again.
How the Accused Evaded Arrest for 17 Years
During interrogation, Iqbal Singh allegedly disclosed that he frequently shifted between Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand to avoid detection, sustaining himself financially by working as a taxi driver. A native of Rampur, he is reported to have criminal cases registered in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh — with a total of 15 previous criminal cases related to auto theft and attempt to murder.
Bhupender Singh reportedly shifted from Delhi's Baljeet Nagar to Punjab after selling his house and worked as a driver with a soft-drink company before sustaining injuries in a road accident. He later returned to Delhi and began living in Mayur Vihar under the assumed name Chander Pal, son of Babu Ram, continuing to work as a taxi driver while concealing his real identity. He carries six previous criminal cases under the Arms Act, Gambling Act, theft, and attempt-to-murder charges.
The Operation That Cracked the Case
A dedicated ARSC team, operating under Inspector Robin Tyagi and supervised by ACP Sanjay Kumar Nagpal, had been tracking fugitives in serious criminal cases. Head Constable Mintu Yadav received specific intelligence on the duo's whereabouts. Simultaneous raids were conducted on 25 July at both locations by a team comprising ASIs Sanjeev Kumar, Sachin Singh, and Narender Sharma, along with Head Constables Mintu Yadav, Sawai Singh, and Aadesh.
What Happens Next
Both accused have been sent to Tihar Jail following their arrest. Concerned local police stations have been directed to initiate further legal proceedings under Sections 174A and 229A of the IPC — covering non-appearance in response to a court proclamation and failure to appear after being released on bail. This arrest is part of a broader Crime Branch drive targeting long-absconding proclaimed offenders in serious criminal cases across Delhi.
Point of View
Were declared proclaimed offenders by 2010, yet remained at large for over 15 years — one hiding in plain sight in Delhi under a false name. India's proclaimed-offender backlog runs into tens of thousands of cases nationally, and this episode underscores how identity verification failures enable long-term evasion. The ARSC's intelligence-led operation is commendable, but the real question is systemic — why does it take 17 years and a dedicated cell to act on a court proclamation in a grievous-offence case?
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the two proclaimed offenders arrested by Delhi Police?
The two arrested are Iqbal Singh alias Palla, 46 , and Bhupender Singh alias Lovely, 47 , both wanted in a 2007 attempt-to-murder case registered at Patel Nagar Police Station in Delhi. They had been absconding for nearly 17 years after jumping bail.
What was the 2007 case about?
The case stems from a family dispute in which Iqbal Singh , Bhupender Singh , and an associate allegedly attacked Amarjit Singh with a wooden plank and iron pipe in the Patel Nagar area on 11 April 2007 . The accused were charged under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.
How did Bhupender Singh evade arrest for so long?
According to police, Bhupender Singh abandoned his real identity and began living under the false name Chander Pal, son of Babu Ram in Mayur Vihar, Delhi . He worked as a taxi driver while concealing his identity from authorities.
Which police team conducted the operation?
The arrests were carried out by the Anti-Robbery and Snatching Cell (ARSC) of Delhi Police's Crime Branch, led by Inspector Robin Tyagi and supervised by ACP Sanjay Kumar Nagpal . Simultaneous raids were conducted on 25 July in Mayur Vihar and Rampur district.
What legal action follows the arrest?
Both accused have been sent to Tihar Jail . Local police stations have been directed to initiate proceedings under Sections 174A and 229A of the IPC for non-appearance in response to a court proclamation and failure to appear after bail.
