New Delhi: The Delhi Police have successfully apprehended the primary suspect in the notorious 2017 Burari murders, which resulted in the tragic deaths of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Chaudhary Munawwar Hassan, his wife, and their four children. Officials announced the arrest on Tuesday.
The suspect, Saheed Khan, also known as Bunty, had been evading capture since September 2024 after being released on parole. He was apprehended by the special staff of North Delhi while attempting to collect money near his residence.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Raja Banthia stated, “Khan, the main conspirator behind these heinous murders, had been on the run for over seven months after failing to report back to jail authorities following his parole.”
According to police reports, Khan was a former business partner of Munawwar Hassan and had plotted to seize properties valued between Rs 5–6 crore belonging to Hassan in the Burari area.
In 2017, while Hassan was incarcerated in Tihar Jail in connection with another case, Khan allegedly orchestrated the elimination of Hassan’s family. On April 20, 2017, with the assistance of hired killers, Khan murdered Hassan’s wife, Ishrat, and their daughters, Arju and Arshi. Their bodies were subsequently buried in a field in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Two days later, on April 22, Hassan’s sons, Aaqib and Shakib, were also strangled and buried on a property in Burari.
Khan is alleged to have assisted Hassan in securing bail. On May 18, 2017, Hassan visited the Burari police station to report his family missing, with Khan accompanying him under the guise of helping with the search. Tragically, just two days later, on May 20, 2017, Hassan was discovered shot dead in the bathroom of his Burari residence.
Subsequent police investigations uncovered that Khan had orchestrated the entire crime, hiring two contract killers identified as Feroz and Zulfiqar. All three individuals were arrested and taken to Tihar Jail, where Khan remained in custody until he was granted parole on personal grounds in September 2024.
According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), “Khan was scheduled to surrender in October 2024, but instead, he went underground. Non-bailable warrants were issued, and efforts were initiated to locate him.”
Given the seriousness of the case and Khan’s prolonged evasion, the investigation was transferred to the special staff. A dedicated team was formed, which included former investigation officers who had previously worked on the 2017 case to gather new leads.
Surveillance was established on residences linked to Khan and his associates. Based on intelligence reports, police learned that Khan planned to visit one of his properties to collect money.
A strategic trap was set, leading to Khan’s arrest. During interrogation, he confessed to hiding in areas near Burari to evade capture, according to police reports.
