In a shocking case of betrayal and greed, the Anti-Narcotics Cell of Dwarka District Police has cracked a blind murder case that began as a missing person complaint and ended with the gruesome killing of a 48-year-old canteen operator. Four accused have been arrested, while efforts are underway to apprehend another suspect still on the run.
The victim, Anroop Gupta, a resident of Dwarka Sector-14 and operator of a canteen at Chhattisgarh Sadan, was reported missing on February 23 after he had not been seen since February 18. His family also reported that his white Kia Seltos car was missing. Initially treated as a missing person case, investigators soon uncovered a sinister conspiracy involving betrayal by a trusted acquaintance.
Friend Turns Mastermind
Police investigation revealed that the main accused, Happy alias Suraj (29), had befriended the victim about a year ago. Aware that Gupta often wore gold jewellery and lived separately from his family, Happy conspired with his associates — Bhupender (27), Balram (28), Neeraj, and his live-in partner Rakhi (21) — to abduct and rob him.
On February 18, Happy invited Gupta to his rented accommodation in Matiala Extension under the pretext of a party. Once inside, the accused assaulted him, tied him up, and forcibly took the keys to his car to retrieve gold ornaments. When Gupta refused to give them more money, the accused brutally beat and stabbed him to death.
Body Dismembered, Dumped in Yamuna
In a chilling attempt to destroy evidence, the accused used a machete to cut the body into pieces and packed the remains into three plastic bags. They then transported the body parts in the victim’s own car and dumped them into the Yamuna River near Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh.
To mislead investigators, the accused kept Gupta’s phone active and sent messages to his family claiming he was going on vacation to Goa. They also messaged canteen staff instructing them to close operations temporarily.
Technical Surveillance Helped Crack Case
The breakthrough came through meticulous technical and manual investigation. Police analyzed CCTV footage from toll plazas and nearby locations, tracked the victim’s car movements on the Yamuna Expressway, and traced a Rapido rider who had dropped Gupta at the accused’s residence.
Further technical surveillance linked the suspects to the crime. During interrogation, the accused confessed and revealed the location where the body parts had been dumped. With the assistance of Uttar Pradesh Police, all three plastic bags containing the victim’s dismembered remains were recovered from the Yamuna River in Mathura district on February 28.
Arrests and Ongoing Search
Police have arrested Happy alias Suraj, Bhupender, Balram, and Rakhi from different locations in Delhi and Haryana. The fifth accused, Neeraj, remains absconding, and efforts are ongoing to arrest him.
A case has been registered at Bindapur Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
DCP Dwarka Statement
DCP Dwarka Ankit Singh, IPS, praised the team’s efforts and said:
“This case demonstrates the importance of scientific investigation and persistent police work. Our team combined technical surveillance with ground intelligence to uncover the truth behind what initially appeared to be a missing person case. The accused attempted to mislead investigators, but sustained efforts ensured justice for the victim.”
Police officials said the investigation is ongoing and further evidence is being collected to strengthen the prosecution’s case.
