Murder accused who fled 21 years ago arrested in Bengaluru

India Nov 27, 2025

Rajendran was finally arrested in Bengaluru after spending 21 years on the run for allegedly murdering his friend Tajuddin back in 2004.
The deadly fight reportedly started when Tajuddin insulted Rajendran's wife at their Ennore home, leading to a fatal altercation.

How he escaped capture—and how police caught up

After the murder, Rajendran confessed to a relative, which led police to discover the body and file charges.
But he managed to vanish by converting to Islam, changing his name to Rafiq, and moving from town to town for years.
In 2024, detectives reopened the case and tracked him down using voter lists and undercover work—finally spotting him at a Bengaluru market.
His identity was confirmed with his Aadhaar card before he was taken into custody.