New Delhi: One of India’s most dreaded serial killers, Devender Sharma, also known as “Doctor Death”, has finally been arrested by Delhi Police’s Crime Branch. He was found hiding in plain sight at an ashram in Dausa district, Rajasthan, disguised as a priest, preaching to devotees.
A Serial Killer in a Priest’s Robes
Sharma, 67, had been on the run since 2023 after he failed to return to Tihar Jail following a parole release. To evade law enforcement, he adopted the identity of a spiritual guru and lived quietly at the ashram, even giving religious sermons. His calm demeanor fooled locals and devotees alike.
However, police personnel in plain clothes surveilled the ashram after a mobile number recharge in the area led them to this breakthrough. A constable, posing as a devotee, gained Sharma’s trust, and once his identity was confirmed, the police swooped in and arrested him without resistance.
More Than 50 Murders, Bodies Dumped for Crocodiles
Originally from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Sharma had studied Ayurveda in Bihar, earning a BAMS degree. For over a decade, he ran a medical practice. But behind the professional facade lay a horrific criminal enterprise. Sharma first operated an illegal kidney transplant racket, facilitating over 125 unlawful transplants across Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
When the organ trade business dried up, Sharma turned to murder for money. His targets were taxi drivers. He would book a cab from Delhi, kill the driver en route, and dispose of the body in Hazara Canal in UP’s Kasganj district — a canal infested with crocodiles, which ensured the bodies were never recovered. He would then sell the taxis in scrap markets for ₹20,000–25,000.
Only 7 Murders Convicted, Admitted to Over 50
Although initially arrested for killing 21 taxi drivers, Sharma confessed to killing over 50 people, claiming he lost count. Yet, due to the absence of bodies and physical evidence, courts could only convict him in 7 murder cases (sentenced to life imprisonment) and 1 case of capital punishment.
Two Parole Breaks, Two Escapes
Sharma was first released on parole in 2020 from Jaipur Central Jail for good conduct, only to escape. He was re-arrested in Delhi’s Baprola area. In June 2023, he was again granted parole for two months but once more disappeared — this time hiding out in the Dausa ashram.
How the Manhunt Ended
The breakthrough came when cyber monitoring detected a mobile recharge in Dausa. Over a week-long surveillance operation, police confirmed that Sharma, under disguise, was indeed the absconding convict. A detailed plan led to his swift arrest while he was preaching at the ashram.
Delhi Police officials have confirmed his identity and stated that further investigations are underway. The chilling case of Doctor Death serves as a reminder of how some of the most dangerous criminals often hide in the most unsuspecting roles — and that justice, no matter how delayed, does arrive.
