A police investigation into the murder of Dr. Yogesh Chandra Paul, a prominent doctor found dead in his South Delhi residence in May, has led to the arrest of the primary suspect, Vishnuswaroop Shahi. Following a months-long pursuit, police apprehended Shahi near the India-Nepal border after an intense 1,600 km chase.
According to authorities, Shahi repeatedly altered his identity to evade capture, cycling through at least eight mobile phones, 20 SIM cards, and six aliases, including “Gagan Oli” and “Surya Prakash Shahi.” He was found using false identity documents under the alias “Gagan Oli” at the time of his arrest. Shahi’s actions, such as frequently switching locations, exemplified the lengths he went to in order to avoid detection, traveling from Himachal Pradesh’s Suket Valley to Dehradun and finally towards the Nepal border.
The incident traces back to May, when Dr. Paul’s body was discovered in his Jangpura home, where he lived with his wife. His murder bore signs of robbery, with rooms visibly vandalized. Police investigations revealed that the house help, Basanti, had informed Shahi about cash and valuables kept in Dr. Paul’s residence. This prompted Shahi to plan the robbery and murder, enlisting several accomplices, including Bhim Jora and Jora’s wife. Although some of his accomplices were arrested earlier, Shahi remained elusive until recently.
The Crime Branch, after taking over the case, traced Shahi through his previous mobile numbers and analyzed call records to track active numbers he was using. Intelligence soon indicated his location in Himachal Pradesh, where police initiated a search before he fled towards Nepal. Ultimately, the chase concluded near the border after 24 hours of continuous pursuit.
At the time of his arrest, Shahi was found with 13 grams of gold and Rs. 40,000, believed to be from the stolen assets. Shahi, who has a criminal record with arrests in 2018 and 2020, has now been handed over to the authorities for further investigation.
Shahi’s capture marks a significant breakthrough in what has been a challenging, high-stakes investigation for the Delhi Crime Branch. His elaborate tactics to evade the authorities—switching phones, adopting new aliases, and moving through multiple states—underscore the complexity and persistence of his efforts to remain hidden. The case highlights the critical role of advanced investigative methods, including call tracing and intelligence gathering, which allowed police to piece together his movements across vast distances. With Shahi now in custody, authorities can further investigate the full extent of his network and motives, hoping to bring justice to Dr. Paul’s family. Meanwhile, Shahi’s capture has sparked broader discussions on the necessity for better tracking systems for fugitives in India. The determination and coordination exhibited by the police in this case stand as a testament to the impact of sustained efforts in solving serious crimes, even when faced with formidable obstacles across state and international boundaries.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)