A young driver was found dead under the Barapula Flyover on Tuesday morning. Within a day, Delhi Police traced his killers through a maze of CCTV cameras. They arrested four youths linked to the murder. The case has drawn attention for one sharp reason. Four youngsters went for a routine birthday outing. It spiralled into a killing over a public urination quarrel.
Police said the body was first spotted near Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. The man had stab injuries and no identification on him. “The case was completely blind. There was no witness or clue. We put together a joint team and moved fast,” said Ishan Bhardwaj, Additional DCP II, South East district. He added that the priority was to secure suspects before they dispersed.
The deceased was identified as Kuldeep, also known as Ram Singh. He was 27, from Ayodhya, and worked as a driver. Officers registered a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita at the Hazrat Nizamuddin police station.
The police scanned more than 500 CCTV cameras in the area. At first, nothing seemed connected, but then a CCTV clip from a public lavatory in Bhogal provided a direction. It showed a group of four arguing with a man near a car. Using the footage, technical surveillance, and local inputs, the team identified the prime accused as Imran, known as Panwadi. He is 19 and has earlier been booked in three snatching and theft cases. Three other boys with him are children in conflict with the law. Investigators said the group had been celebrating Imran’s birthday on Monday night. They were drunk and heading to India Gate for a late-night outing. Near the lavatory, they got into an argument with Kuldeep. The quarrel began when they saw him with his car and accused him of urinating there. The fight turned violent in moments.
Police said Imran stabbed Kuldeep while the others held him, and after that, they fled in his car. The vehicle was later recovered along with the knife and blood-stained clothes worn during the attack.
For many residents in the area, the case has revived concerns about late-night street crime that can start from sudden fights. Officers said the quick detection shows how CCTV networks can change investigations. The police team said the footage from the Bhogal lavatory was critical; without it, the case may have stretched for days.
By Tuesday night, officers had tracked the four to different locations and detained them. All have confessed to their role in the crime, police said. The CCLs will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, while Imran will face charges in court.
Officers said the murder was not planned. It was a mix of alcohol, anger, and a trivial dispute that escalated. What makes the case stand out is how a small argument in a public spot turned into a fatal attack within seconds.
Police said their focus now is to build a strong chargesheet. For Kuldeep’s family, the quick arrests offer some relief, but the shock remains. The case has become a grim reminder of how everyday confrontations can tip into violence in crowded city spaces.
