No Relief for Husband in UK Murder Case—Delhi HC Upholds Proclaimed Offender Tag

What Happened?

• The Delhi High Court rejected a petition by a Gurgaon-based man, accused of murdering his 24‑year‑old Delhi wife in East London last year, seeking either interim relief or a stay on the order naming him a “proclaimed offender”
• The accused remains at large, last seen withdrawing cash from a Gurgaon bank on March 4, 2025, and was formally declared a proclaimed offender by Delhi Police on May 1, 2025, after a Look-Out-Circular was issued

Legal Proceedings in Delhi HC

• Justice Prathiba M Singh observed that the case, hinging on a confidential UK report, “requires consideration” and assured that if the accused is arrested, he may pursue legal remedies including regular bail
• The accused argued he hadn’t received any Section 41A notice to appear before police and feared his properties might be attached
• The public prosecutor countered that the UK-provided fact-based report justified the proclaimed-offender status, urging the court to allow the accused to surrender first and seek bail thereafter
• The bench emphasized this isn’t a matter for a vacation bench, given its seriousness, and refused to stay the order
• The case has been listed for the next hearing on July 15, 2025

Background & Investigation

• The deceased woman’s body was discovered in the boot of the accused’s car in East London in November 2024. A post-mortem indicated strangulation as the preliminary cause of death
• After authorities suspected the accused was in India, Delhi Police issued an LOC, and following verification of CCTV and withdrawal records, declared him a proclaimed offende