1989 murder convict held in Delhi after evading arrest for years

New Delhi– A man convicted in a 1989 murder case has been arrested in Delhi after remaining on the run for several years, police said on Monday. The accused, Sushil Kumar alias Guddu, 57, had failed to surrender even after his life sentence was upheld by the Delhi High Court and was declared a proclaimed offender.

According to officials, Kumar had been absconding since 2017. He was finally traced to a rented house in the Shahdara area following sustained efforts by a crime branch team assigned to track long-pending fugitives. The arrest was made during a raid conducted on Saturday.

Investigators said the case dates back to October 1989, when a dispute broke out during a Ram Lila event in Krishna Nagar. During the altercation, Kumar allegedly stabbed a man named Vivek, leading to his death. He was arrested earlier in the case and later granted bail in 1993.

A trial court convicted him in 2000 and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The conviction was subsequently upheld by the Delhi High Court. However, instead of surrendering as directed, Kumar disappeared and managed to avoid arrest for years.

Police said tracing him was particularly challenging due to the age of the case, lack of photographs, and outdated records. By examining digital case files and appeal records, the team was able to generate leads that eventually led to his location.

Officials added that Kumar had also been linked to another case involving theft of railway property registered in Lucknow. Further legal proceedings are now underway following his arrest.