Delhi: Three Arrested, Including Mastermind, in Shalimar Bagh Rachna Yadav Murder Case

The Shalimar Bagh murder case of Rachna Yadav has been solved, with police arresting three accused, including the main conspirator, from Bihar and Haryana. Bharat Yadav, the mastermind behind the killing, had previously murdered Rachna’s husband.

Arrests Made Across States

A joint police team successfully apprehended the suspects: 33-year-old Bharat Yadav from Bhalswa village, 22-year-old Nikhil from Panipat, Haryana, and 23-year-old Sumit. Bharat Yadav, identified as the main conspirator, orchestrated the murder, and the vehicle and bike used during the crime were recovered from the accused.

Fugitive with Reward on Head

Bharat Yadav had been declared a fugitive by the court in connection with the earlier murder of Bijendra Yadav, with a ₹20,000 reward announced for his capture.

North West District DCP Bhishma Singh stated that Rachna Yadav, aged 44, was shot dead on the morning of 10th January at 11:00 am in East Shalimar Bagh. A case was registered under the Arms Act and murder charges, and a special joint team comprising Special Staff, AATS, and Shalimar Bagh police was formed to track the culprits. CCTV analysis led to the identification of Nikhil, who, along with Bharat, was arrested from a forested area in Katihar.

Motive Behind the Killing

During interrogation, Bharat revealed that he had killed Rachna’s husband, Bijendra. Rachna had become a key prosecution witness in the case and was actively participating in court proceedings. Fearing that her testimony and active role could harm him, Bharat hatched the plan to eliminate her with assistance from Nikhil.

The murder is believed to have been fueled by a long-standing dispute over a 250-square-yard plot located along the route from Swaroop Nagar to Burari, near a government school and adjacent to a red building at Kathe Wala temple.