Bareilly Murder Case: 4 More Arrested After Violent Police Encounter
Four more suspects arrested in the Sanjay Saxena murder case in Bareilly after a police encounter. Total arrests now reach eight.
The investigation into the brutal killing of 35-year-old taxi driver Sanjay Saxena has seen a major breakthrough as the Bareilly police apprehended four more suspects. This latest operation brings the total number of arrests in the Sanjay Saxena murder case to eight, as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy.
Drama at the Riverbank: An Encounter with the Prime Suspect
The most significant arrest occurred on the night of Sunday, October 25, 2026, near the banks of the Ramganga river. Police teams had tracked down the primary suspect, Rajesh Gurjar, but the apprehension was far from peaceful.
According to official reports, Gurjar resisted arrest by opening fire on the police team. The officers retaliated in a gunfight, during which Gurjar sustained a bullet injury to his leg. He was successfully neutralized and taken into custody. Police recovered a country-made pistol and ammunition from his possession. He is currently undergoing medical treatment at the district hospital.
The Motive: A Deadly Rivalry
Along with Rajesh Gurjar, the police arrested Krishna Goswami, Rahul Teli, and Dheeraj Gurjar. During interrogation, CO Nitin Kumar revealed that the suspects confessed the murder was the result of a long-standing rivalry. The tension reportedly stemmed from a previous altercation involving the victim and associates of the accused, specifically Vikas Srivastava and Ashish Gurjar.
Tragedy During Festive Celebrations
The victim, Sanjay Saxena, was a resident of Noida who had traveled to Bareilly to celebrate the festival of Dussehra with family and friends. The tragedy struck on the night of October 21 or 22, 2026, when Saxena was murdered while returning from a Ramlila performance.
The legal proceedings began after the victim's sister, Sakshi, filed a formal complaint. Consequently, case number 0733/2026 was registered at the Subhashnagar police station under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The List of Accused
With the recent arrests, the police have now detained a total of eight individuals involved in the crime:
- Rajesh Gurjar (Prime Suspect)
- Krishna Goswami
- Rahul Teli
- Dheeraj Gurjar
- Vikas Srivastava
- Akash Srivastava
- Ranjeet Gurjar
- Abhishek Saini
Police Negligence: Four Officers Suspended
The case has not only exposed criminal elements but also highlighted lapses within the local law enforcement. SSP Anurag Arya has taken strict disciplinary action by suspending four police personnel for professional negligence in the handling of the case.
The suspended officers include:
- Chowki In-charge Jitendra Kumar
- SI Anuj Kumar
- Head Constable Omendra Singh
- Constable Tushar
The ongoing investigation is currently being spearheaded by SP City Chirag Jain and CO Nitin Kumar, who are examining both the murder plot and the details surrounding the police encounter.