July 7, 2025: After evading the police for over two decades, one of India’s most elusive criminals, Ajay Lamba, has finally been arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch, according to a report by NDTV. Known for a string of brutal murders and robberies dating back to 2001, Lamba’s arrest brings closure to some of the most chilling unsolved cases involving cab drivers in northern India.
For nearly 24 years, Lamba managed to stay hidden, changing cities, identities, and even countries. But constant tracking, both manually and through technical surveillance by the Crime Branch, led to his dramatic capture.
His Modus Operandi Was Cold-Blooded and Calculated
According to DCP Aditya Gautam, Lamba had a consistent method of operation. He would:
- Hire taxis from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, or Uttarakhand
- Sedate and murder the unsuspecting drivers
- Dump the bodies in remote hilly areas to avoid detection
- Smuggle the vehicles to Nepal and sell them off with the help of his gang
This method helped him stay under the radar for years. Most of these crimes were committed around 2001, with only one body recovered from the four confirmed murder cases.
Who Is Ajay Lamba?
Ajay Lamba, now 48 years old, hails from Delhi and dropped out of school after Class 6. He later moved to Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, where he met his future crime partners Dhirendra and Dilip Negi. Together, they formed a gang that operated across state borders with shocking precision.
Over the years, Lamba’s criminal record expanded to include:
- Robbery
- Murder
- Illegal arms possession
- Drug trafficking (ganja supply chain)
- Jewellery shop dacoity
In fact, from 2008 to 2018, he lived in Nepal, blending into society with a new identity. Later, he shifted to Dehradun, Uttarakhand, with his family and continued his activities.
Previous Arrests and Bail
Lamba was arrested under the NDPS Act in 2021 in a drug trafficking case in Sagarpur, Delhi. In 2024, he was again arrested for a dacoity case in a jewellery shop in Behrampur, Odisha. However, he secured bail both times — and cleverly concealed his past crimes from the police and even his family.
More Crimes Under the Radar?
Police suspect that the four confirmed cases might just be the tip of the iceberg. Given his history and long absence, there may be more victims that haven’t yet been traced.
His two accomplices had already been arrested earlier, but Lamba continued to remain a ghost — until now.
Conclusion
The arrest of Ajay Lamba is a major win for the Delhi Police and Crime Branch, who tirelessly tracked him for over two decades. This case sheds light not only on the cracks in our system that let him stay hidden for so long but also on the relentless efforts of law enforcement agencies that refused to give up.