The Delhi Police Sunday said they have arrested a father-son duo for the murder of Congress worker Lakhpat Singh Kataria when he was out for a morning walk at Vijay Mandal park in Malviya Nagar. Police said the main accused, 47-year-old Khushi Ram from Auchandi village, committed the crime a day before his son’s 18th birthday, to take advantage of juvenile law provisions since his son was also involved in the murder. Investigators scrutinised over 650 CCTV cameras across a 55 km area and employed advanced technical surveillance to trace the duo.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Ankit Chauhan, said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim had physically assaulted Khushi Ram in 2016 during a property dispute, leaving him bedridden for almost nine months,” said Ankit Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south). Since then, Khushi Ram harboured a deep grudge and was determined to seek revenge, he added. “Lakhpat Singh (56), was attacked by two men armed with a cricket bat and a firearm while he was on his morning walk in Vijay Mandal Park, Begumpur on Friday,” said DCP Chauhan.
Police said the core motive for the murder was a deep-seated grudge dating back to 2016. Police revealed that the deceased, Lakhpat Singh, had severely assaulted Khushi Ram over a property dispute, leaving him bedridden for nearly nine months. Khushi Ram, who confessed to the crime, told interrogators he had “harboured deep resentment” and was determined to avenge the humiliation. The accused allegedly shared his grievance with his minor son and instigated him to participate in the plan. The most shocking revelation is the timing of the execution. Khushi Ram admitted to planning the murder a day prior to his son attaining adulthood. The son was due to turn 18 on the very next day, a move clearly intended to gain advantage under the juvenile laws.
The planning was elaborate. Khushi Ram, now a resident of Auchandi in Outer Delhi, arranged a country-made pistol. Knowing Lakhpat Singh’s daily morning walk routine, the father first deputed his minor son to conduct a recce of the victim’s movements. On the day of the incident, the father and son reached the park on a black Hero Splendor motorcycle whose number plate had been deliberately removed. With their faces muffled, they waited for the victim, chased him inside the park, and executed the murder. Lakhpat Singh was rushed to AIIMS Hospital but was declared “brought dead.” The MLC confirmed multiple penetrating injuries, including gunshot wounds.
The breakthrough came after multiple police teams, including AATS and Special Staff, began the complex task of tracing the assailants’ movements. CCTV footage showed two unidentified men fleeing towards Outer Delhi using multiple routes. This minute analysis, combined with Khushi Ram’s established past enmity with the deceased and the fact that his mobile phone was switched off during the relevant period, established his involvement. The police first apprehended the minor, which led to the arrest of Khushi Ram. The number-plate-removed motorcycle used in the crime has been recovered. Khushi Ram has four previous criminal cases registered against him in Malviya Nagar, primarily related to assault. Further investigation is ongoing.