Rape Accused Killed Debtor, Burned Body in Car to Stage His Own Death in Saharanpur
Four men were arrested after an elaborate murder plot to help a rape accused evade conviction.
Police have arrested four men for allegedly conspiring to fake the death of one of them by murdering his debtor and burning the body inside a car, officials said on Sunday. The accused have been identified as Arjun; Robin; Vijay Sagar — all residents of Biharigarh in Saharanpur — and Shariq, a resident of Uttarakhand. Authorities said the elaborate plot was uncovered after investigators linked a charred body found in a burnt vehicle to the suspects.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police Abhinandan Singh, the village head of Chorkhurd alerted authorities on February 25 after spotting a burnt car with a body inside on the roadside between Chorkhurd and Chandpur villages. A police team reached the scene and identified the vehicle through its partially burnt number plate and registration details. The car was originally registered to a resident of New Tehri in Uttarakhand and had reportedly been purchased by Arjun Kumar on February 16.
Soon after the discovery, Vijay Sagar and Robin Kumar approached the Gagalhedi police station, claiming the burnt vehicle belonged to Vijay’s brother Arjun, who had allegedly gone missing after leaving home with Robin on February 24. Police registered a case and began an investigation led by Sub-Inspector Rambeer Shakya. However, inconsistencies in the statements and technical evidence soon raised suspicion about the missing person claim.
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On February 28, police arrested Arjun, Robin, Shariq and Vijay Sagar near the Badkala flyover. During interrogation, Arjun allegedly confessed that he had devised the plan to fake his death to avoid conviction in an ongoing rape case registered in 2024 at Dalanwala police station in Dehradun. He had reportedly been jailed for about six months and feared severe punishment if convicted.
Police said Arjun had previously lent money on interest during the COVID-19 lockdown, and Rohit, a resident of Mohammadpur Kandhela village, owed him about ₹1.7 lakh. Nursing a grudge over non-payment, Arjun allegedly conspired with Robin and Shariq — whom he met in jail — to kill Rohit and pass off the body as his own. Investigators said the accused allegedly intoxicated Rohit on February 24, strangled him with a muffler, and placed the body in the driver’s seat.
To stage the incident as an accident, the accused allegedly loosened a wheel bolt, placed a rod on the car roof, poured petrol into the vehicle and set it ablaze before fleeing. Police said Arjun suffered minor burns during the act and later cut his hair in Dehradun to avoid identification, while also using a SIM card obtained in another person’s name. Officials confirmed that further investigation into the case is ongoing.
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