Delhi: Paan Shop Owner Stabbed to Death for Refusing Free Cigarette; Main Accused Caught in Encounter

New Delhi: A shocking incident in Patel Nagar left a paan shop owner dead after he was stabbed by a 19-year-old over a dispute about a free cigarette. The main accused, Mohammad Mehtab, alias Raja, a resident of Faridpuri, was apprehended by the police within 24 hours following an encounter in which he sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg.

Incident Details
On the night of 24 November, Rajendra Kumar (40), running a paan shop in Patel Nagar, was attacked with a knife after he refused to provide cigarettes for free. The injured shopkeeper was rushed to RML Hospital but was declared dead by the doctors. Following the murder, Patel Nagar police immediately registered a case and formed a special team under Inspector Naveen Kumar, supervised by ACP Sunil Kumar, to investigate the crime.

CCTV and Forensic Evidence Lead to Arrest
Police collected prints, blood samples, and other forensic evidence from the scene and examined nearby CCTV footage. The investigation revealed the identities of Mehtab and five of his minor accomplices. Weapons including two knives, a desi pistol, and cartridges used in the attack were recovered. Records of the minors’ criminal histories were also checked to aid the investigation.

Accused Caught While Attempting to Flee
On 25 November evening, police received information that the adult accused was hiding near the railway line under the Shadipur flyover, attempting to escape. A police team laid a trap and ordered him to surrender. He fired at the officers, who returned fire, hitting him in the right leg and taking him into custody.

Revelation During Interrogation
During questioning, the accused revealed that they were involved in multiple theft and snatching incidents. On 24 November, after consuming alcohol, they went to the paan shop and asked for free cigarettes. When denied, an argument escalated, resulting in the fatal stabbing. Mohammad Mehtab had previously been apprehended in 2024 for loot and attempted murder, at which time he was a minor.