Bhopal: Bhopal Police has constituted a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the September 30 murder of Rakesh Agrawal, a retired 1982-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. The decision comes amid demands from the Madhya Pradesh IAS Officers’ Association for a fair, independent and time-bound investigation into the high-profile case.
The SIT was constituted by Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar on Wednesday evening. It will be headed by Umesh Tiwari, Additional Inspector General (AIG) at the State Police Headquarters (PHQ).
The development came just hours after a delegation of the Madhya Pradesh IAS Officers’ Association, led by its president and state Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Manu Srivastava, met Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav to seek his intervention in the case. Yadav also holds the Home portfolio.
IAS Officers’ Association Seeks Fair and Time-Bound Investigation
During the meeting, the association urged the Chief Minister to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the murder of the retired bureaucrat.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, the association said the incident had caused deep concern among members of the administrative community and society at large.
The association emphasised that the case was not limited to the killing of a senior retired administrative officer. It also raised broader concerns about public safety, the protection of senior citizens and the need for effective verification procedures for domestic helpers and caregivers.
The memorandum stated that, given the seriousness of the case and the circumstances surrounding the murder, every aspect of the investigation needed to be examined thoroughly.
It further stressed that no potential facts, evidence or investigative leads should be overlooked. The association also called for the formation of a Special Investigation Team under the supervision of senior police officers to ensure a comprehensive investigation.
Retired IAS Officer Rakesh Agrawal Found Murdered at Farmhouse
Rakesh Agrawal, a 70-year-old retired IAS officer, was found murdered in the bedroom of his farmhouse in Bhopal’s Ratibad police station area in the early hours of September 30.
The killing has drawn significant attention because of the victim’s administrative background and the circumstances surrounding the case.
According to the information provided, Agrawal’s family had hired Varun Kumar through a private agency only a few days before the incident. Kumar was employed as a caretaker-cum-male nurse to look after the ailing retired bureaucrat.
However, Kumar has been missing since the murder and has emerged as the prime suspect in the police investigation.
Reward for Prime Suspect Varun Kumar Increased to Rs 50,000
Bhopal Police initially announced a reward of Rs 30,000 for information leading to Varun Kumar’s arrest. The reward was subsequently increased to Rs 50,000 by the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP).
Despite the reward and ongoing search operations, the prime suspect remains at large.
Multiple police teams have been searching for Kumar across several locations in an effort to trace his whereabouts and secure his arrest.
Police Search Underway Across Multiple States
The search for Varun Kumar has extended beyond Madhya Pradesh, with police teams investigating possible hideouts in the state’s Gwalior-Chambal region and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
Search operations have also covered parts of Delhi, Haryana and Punjab as investigators pursue leads to locate the suspect.
The constitution of the five-member SIT is expected to bring a dedicated investigative focus to the case as police continue efforts to trace the accused and examine all relevant evidence.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the suspect still absconding and the authorities under pressure to establish the circumstances of Agrawal’s murder.
Read also: ₹50,000 Reward Announced for Caretaker in Retired IAS Officer Rakesh Agrawal Murder Case
