Murder Convict Absconding for 20 Years Arrested in Vrindavan

A murder convict who had been absconding for nearly two decades was arrested by Rajasthan Police from Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Saturday. The accused, who had been on the run for about 20 years, was apprehended following a covert operation in which a police officer disguised himself as a Hindu ascetic.

The arrested individual, identified as Varun Singh (41), is a resident of Hindaun City in Rajasthan. He had been convicted in connection with the 2005 murder of liquor businessman Nawab Singh, also known as Nabba Singh.

In 2006, a court sentenced Varun Singh to life imprisonment. On October 19, 2006, the Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court) in Karauli convicted him under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and imposed an additional sentence under the Arms Act. His appeals against the conviction were subsequently dismissed by both the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court of India.

Despite the verdict, Singh absconded soon after the judgment. A permanent arrest warrant was issued against him, but he managed to evade law enforcement for years by frequently changing locations and disguising his identity.

Since 2006, police had launched multiple special operations to track him down. Several teams were formed to search for the fugitive across different states. Raids were conducted in locations including Mathura, Vrindavan, Jaipur, and Jammu and Kashmir, but the accused continued to evade arrest. Authorities had announced a reward of ₹25,000 for information leading to his capture.

The breakthrough came during a recent operation known as “Operation Shikanja,” launched by the Rajasthan Police to apprehend long-absconding criminals. A special team led by Head Constable Jogendra Singh was deployed to the Mathura–Vrindavan region following a tip-off from an informant.

As part of the operation, Jogendra Singh reportedly disguised himself as a sadhu (Hindu ascetic) and conducted discreet surveillance in the area. Officials said he closely monitored tea stalls, roadside eateries, and narrow lanes where the fugitive was believed to frequent.

After days of covert observation, the team successfully identified and apprehended the accused, bringing an end to his two-decade-long evasion of law enforcement.