South Delhi Land Dispute Turns Deadly: Businessman Murdered
Police Arrest Suspects After Dramatic Chase
New Delhi: Police arrested two suspects after a dramatic chase. This happened nearly three weeks after a tragic incident. The suspects were injured and caught on the Chirag Delhi–Khanpur stretch on Thursday. The victim, businessman Arun Lohia, was shot dead inside his SUV near Chhatarpur Metro Station in South Delhi. A land dispute was the cause of the killing. Police also took a third suspect into custody.
The Day of the Incident
The murder took place on May 15. Arun, a resident of Aya Nagar, owned several local warehouses. He was attacked around 1 pm. Arun was returning from Saket Court with his father, Rambir Lohia. Two men approached their vehicle and opened fire while they were stuck in traffic.
How Police Cracked the Case
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankit Chauhan put together a team. Inspector (AATS) Umesh Yadav led the team to investigate the incident. They analyzed CCTV footage to trace the suspects’ routes. Images from the footage helped identify the attackers. On Thursday, a tip-off led police to their location along the Chirag Delhi–Khanpur stretch.
Around 3 am, a police officer spotted them on a motorcycle near Chirag Delhi. As the suspects tried to flee, police closely monitored them. The duo attempted to escape by driving onto the footpath and making a sharp U-turn. But their bike skidded. When ordered to surrender, they opened fire. In the exchange, both suspects were shot in the legs. One of their bullets hit the bulletproof vest of Head Constable Kamal Prakash.
Who Were the Attackers?
Police identified the attackers as Deepak and Yogesh. Both were residents of Aya Nagar. They were taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment. During questioning, they confessed to killing Arun. They also led police to the weapons used in the crime. The recovered items included:
- A Chinese Star automatic pistol (.25 mm)
- A 9 mm pistol
- Four empty cartridges
- Nine live rounds
- The motorcycle used in the crime
Police arrested a third accused, Ajay, near Asian Market in Pushp Vihar. He was found with a country-made pistol and three live cartridges. A separate case was registered against him.
Why Did the Murder Happen?
Police revealed that a long-standing property dispute was the motive. This dispute turned violent last year, leading to a criminal case. Arun was booked for attempted murder in April 2024. This case is still under trial. A source added that the confrontation in 2023 left one of the attackers injured. This led to a complaint and a subsequent panchayat meeting to resolve the matter.
Records showed that Deepak had prior involvement in two criminal cases. Yogesh was booked in four criminal cases.
