India’s ‘Cab Killer’ Caught After 24 Years on the Run

Ajay Lamba posed as a passenger, murdered drivers, and sold their cars in Nepal.

After nearly a quarter of a century evading capture, 49-year-old Ajay Lamba was arrested on July 5 by Delhi Police.

Lamba, known by the alias “Bansi,” is suspected of killing multiple taxi drivers between 1999 and 2001 and selling their vehicles across the border in Nepal.

Lured to Death and Dumped in Ravines

According to investigators, Lamba and his accomplices targeted cab drivers in Delhi and Uttarakhand. The gang would hire them for long-distance trips to hilly towns like Haldwani and Champawat, then drug and strangle them. Bodies were dumped in forested ravines, making discovery difficult. So far, only one victim’s remains have been recovered.

Police believe the gang may be linked to several other disappearances from that period. Officers are now reopening old missing persons cases involving taxi drivers across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

A Life of Crime Across Borders

Lamba’s criminal record spans decades. Originally from Delhi’s Krishna Nagar, he left school early and began petty crimes in his teens. He later partnered with two others—Dhirendra and Dilip Negi—before shifting to Nepal in 2008. There, he lived under a false identity, married, and blended into local life.

Despite the move, he didn’t leave crime behind. In 2020, Lamba joined a drug trafficking network, transporting cannabis from Odisha to Delhi. Though he was arrested twice—in 2021 and again in 2024—he managed to conceal his past and was released on bail both times.

Arrest Near India Gate, Search for Victims Ongoing

Lamba was finally arrested near India Gate after weeks of surveillance by the Delhi Crime Branch. Two of his old associates had been detained earlier. Another, identified as Dheeraj, is still on the run.

Police say Lamba’s interrogation may help them recover more victims and understand the full extent of the gang’s crimes. Authorities are now working closely with police in Uttarakhand to follow up on leads tied to missing drivers.

This case has renewed concerns about driver safety, especially for those working independently. Officials have pledged to continue investigating until all those involved are held accountable.

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