Bhopal retired IAS officer murder: Caretaker arrested in Agra, shot in leg after escape bid
BHOPAL: Nearly a month after the murder of retired IAS officer Rakesh Agrawal, 70, his caretaker and the prime accused, Varun Kumar, was arrested in Agra on Monday evening. He was shot in the leg early Tuesday after allegedly snatching a sub-inspector’s service revolver and attempting to escape while being brought to Bhopal.
Police said the incident took place around 5 am near Mugaliachhap. The police team transporting Varun to Bhopal had stopped near Mugaliyachhap to relieve themselves when he allegedly snatched sub-inspector OP Raghuivanshi’s service revolver and tried to escape. Police personnel attempted to restrain him, leading to a struggle during which he sustained a bullet injury to his leg.
A special police team including Ratibad SHO RB Sharma took Varun to Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal, where he was admitted for treatment. Police said he was being brought to the city after his arrest in Agra when the escape attempt took place.
Police officials said the murder does not appear to have been premeditated. Preliminary investigation suggests that Varun Kumar allegedly killed Agrawal after being reprimanded by him. Angered by the scolding, Varun allegedly murdered the retired IAS officer, stole valuables from the house and fled.
Police teams posed as vendors, auto drivers to track him:
Police officers said teams had been searching for Varun across Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since the murder. Investigators tracked leads in several locations, including Gwalior, Agra, Vrindavan and parts of Punjab.
To avoid raising suspicion, police personnel stayed in Agra and other places posing as vegetable vendors, auto-rickshaw drivers and labourers while trying to locate him. Varun had been on the run since the killing.
Retired IAS officer murdered on September 30:
Agrawal was found murdered at his residence in Suraj Nagar, Bhopal, early on September 30. The 70-year-old retired IAS officer had his throat slit.
Police suspected his caretaker Varun Kumar of carrying out the murder and fleeing with valuables from the house. He allegedly disconnected the LPG cylinder pipes and attempted to set the house on fire before escaping.
Varun remained absconding for nearly a month, prompting searches across several states. His arrest in Agra is a major breakthrough in the case. Police are continuing the investigation to establish the sequence of events and recover any remaining evidence.
Police said the incident took place around 5 am near Mugaliachhap. The police team transporting Varun to Bhopal had stopped near Mugaliyachhap to relieve themselves when he allegedly snatched sub-inspector OP Raghuivanshi’s service revolver and tried to escape. Police personnel attempted to restrain him, leading to a struggle during which he sustained a bullet injury to his leg.
A special police team including Ratibad SHO RB Sharma took Varun to Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal, where he was admitted for treatment. Police said he was being brought to the city after his arrest in Agra when the escape attempt took place.
Police officials said the murder does not appear to have been premeditated. Preliminary investigation suggests that Varun Kumar allegedly killed Agrawal after being reprimanded by him. Angered by the scolding, Varun allegedly murdered the retired IAS officer, stole valuables from the house and fled.
Police teams posed as vendors, auto drivers to track him:
Police officers said teams had been searching for Varun across Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since the murder. Investigators tracked leads in several locations, including Gwalior, Agra, Vrindavan and parts of Punjab.
To avoid raising suspicion, police personnel stayed in Agra and other places posing as vegetable vendors, auto-rickshaw drivers and labourers while trying to locate him. Varun had been on the run since the killing.
Retired IAS officer murdered on September 30:
Agrawal was found murdered at his residence in Suraj Nagar, Bhopal, early on September 30. The 70-year-old retired IAS officer had his throat slit.
Police suspected his caretaker Varun Kumar of carrying out the murder and fleeing with valuables from the house. He allegedly disconnected the LPG cylinder pipes and attempted to set the house on fire before escaping.
Varun remained absconding for nearly a month, prompting searches across several states. His arrest in Agra is a major breakthrough in the case. Police are continuing the investigation to establish the sequence of events and recover any remaining evidence.
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