A killing, three arrests and a victim with no name: A murder mystery in Delhi

On August 17, a man boarded a passing car in Gurgaon and never reached his intended destination. Hours later, his lifeless body was discovered on a Delhi sidewalk — devoid of any identifying items such as a phone, clothing, or personal belongings. Within four hours, police apprehended three individuals, including the driver who had provided the deceased a ride, for the suspected murder.

However, the investigators are still struggling to identify the victim. The only discernible clue is a heart-shaped tattoo displaying the names "ANAND" and "RENU" on the man's left forearm.

The story commenced with a call to the police regarding a body that had been discovered near C-52, C-Block, in West Delhi's Naraina Vihar. Upon arriving at the scene, the authorities found a man, approximately 30-35 years old, lying naked on the pavement adjacent to a Seva Bharti NGO. The victim exhibited a deep injury on his right side of the head and other injuries scattered across his body.

Police also observed the aforementioned heart-shaped tattoo. Forensic and crime teams meticulously examined the location, gathering samples and documenting blood spatter on the bricks and fragments of an earthen-pot-like object. The body was subsequently transported to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, where a murder case was registered at the Naraina police station.

With the victim's identity unknown, investigators turned their attention to CCTV footage from the vicinity and adjacent roads. They identified a suspicious vehicle, initially unable to discern its registration number. After scrutinizing approximately 500 CCTV recordings and conducting on-site verification, police pinpointed the vehicle as a Maruti Eeco.

The driver of this vehicle, Rajinder Kumar alias Annu, aged 59, was promptly apprehended. He resides with his wife and children in Naraina village, according to an officer. Rajinder recounted to the police that he had picked up the deceased and another individual from IFFCO Chowk in Gurgaon. During the journey, he alleged, a disagreement ensued over the fare, estimated between Rs 1,000-1,500.

The victim allegedly refused to pay. Police claim that Rajinder allegedly struck the victim with bricks and an earthen-pot-like object, resulting in fatal injuries. Following the incident, it is alleged that he summoned his wife, Kamini Mukhija, aged 50, and their 28-year-old son, Laksh Makhija, to the site. Together, they purportedly concealed the deceased's clothing and the vehicle utilized in the crime.

The body was subsequently disposed of in Delhi. The victim's garments were recovered from a forested area, and the accused also asserted the victim was not in possession of a mobile phone, wallet, or cash. This information is currently under verification by the police. The search for the victim's name continues, as police are leveraging ZIPNet - a database tracking missing persons - and other technical methods to ascertain the deceased's identity.

Photographs of the victim have been dispatched to neighboring states, encompassing Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, but no leads have emerged thus far.