Prime accused in Delhi doctor’s murder, who used 20 SIMs, 8 phones, 6 fake names, caught after 1,600 km chase

The victim, Dr. Yogesh Chandra Paul, 63, was discovered murdered in his home in Jangpura, where he lived with his wife.

According to the Delhi Police Crime Branch, the main suspect in the murder changed at least eight mobile phones and used 20 different SIM cards while on the run.

Police chased Vishnuswaroop Shahi, for over 1,600 km to the India-Nepal border, where he was ultimately caught.

Shahi used various aliases and carried forged identity documents throughout his escape, police said.

Investigators found papers bearing names such as Vishnu Swaroop Shahi, Shakti Sai, Satya Sai, Surya Prakash Shahi, Gagan Oli, and Krishna Shahi. At the time of his arrest, he was using the fake identity—Gagan Oli.

The victim’s body was found in the kitchen, and signs of ransacking indicated a robbery motive.

Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Sen stated that the suspect looted the residence before killing Dr. Paul. Surveillance footage around the area revealed the involvement of several people in the crime.

During the investigation, police detained the doctor’s domestic helper, Basanti, and two others identified as Akash and Himanshu Joshi, while Shahi and four accomplices remained at large.

Upon taking over the case, the Crime Branch began tracking Shahi through old phone numbers, analysing call detail records (CDR) for about two weeks.

"Given the sensitivity of the case, a dedicated team comprising SIs Gaurav & Ankit, HCs Naveen, Tarun, Nitesh, Sunil and Vinod was formed under the leadership of Inspector Mahipal, supervision of Inspector Satendra Mohan and Sh. Ramesh Chander Lamba, ACP/ISC was constituted," police said in a statement.

They identified active numbers linked to Shahi, who had switched between eight phones and 20 SIM cards.

Intelligence indicated that Shahi was hiding in Suket Valley, Himachal Pradesh, with plans to flee to Nepal.

Before police could reach him there, he moved to Dehradun and then boarded a bus toward the India-Nepal border.

The police team drove 1,600 km in 24 hours and intercepted him at the Nepal border, finally, arresting him.

The police revealed that the house help had informed Shahi about a substantial amount of cash and jewellery kept in Dr. Paul’s residence, prompting him to plan the robbery and murder.

Police said Shahi’s associates, including one Bhim Jora and Jora’s wife, were involved in plotting the crime.

From the loot, Shahi allegedly obtained Rs 40,000 and 13 grams of gold.

Modus Operandi

Police said Shahi, whose wife and daughter live in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, is a resident of Nepal.

He first came to India in 2002 and started working as a labourer in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur. He has a criminal record with arrests in 2018 and 2020.

Later he started the work of illegal trade of Opium and was arrested twice in NDPS Act cases. After that, he began committing theft by Drugging (Zehar Khurani) incidents along with some other criminals to fulfill his greed.

Later he socialized Nepal-based house-helps to get wealth details of the households they worked in with the motive of robbery.

Police said he wanted to accumulate a large sum of money from the robbery to set up his own business in Nepal.

In this way, he came to connect with the maid and murdered Dr Yogesh Chandra Paul.

After each incident, Shahi changed his identity and was most recently using the name Gagan Oli.