Punjab Police have arrested former Indian Army captain Sandeep Tomar in Madhya Pradesh, bringing an end to a four-year manhunt in connection with the murder of his wife. The breakthrough came through an unexpected lead—an LPG cylinder booking—which helped investigators trace his exact location.
Tomar had been absconding since 2022, when the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld his life sentence. Despite being granted bail in 2019, he failed to surrender after the court confirmed his conviction and has been moving across different locations to evade arrest.
The investigation was initiated after Tomar’s father-in-law approached the court, seeking action against him. Following this, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed under the leadership of Superintendent of Police Aaswant Singh to track down the fugitive.
Using intelligence tools and coordination with the National Intelligence Grid, the SIT traced Tomar’s PAN card details, which led them to a bank account linked to him. Analysis of the account revealed regular salary deposits from a private company, along with a mobile number that placed him in the Pandhurna district of Madhya Pradesh. However, his precise location remained unclear at that stage.
The crucial breakthrough came when investigators identified a transaction for an LPG cylinder booked through Bharat Gas. By contacting the gas agency, police obtained the delivery address associated with the booking. This information led them directly to the rented accommodation where Tomar was staying, enabling his arrest.
He was subsequently taken into custody with the assistance of Madhya Pradesh police and brought back to Punjab. Officials stated that Tomar had been frequently changing locations and identities to avoid detection during the period he was on the run.
Tomar’s case dates back to 2013, when he was posted at Abohar Cantonment. He was accused of strangling his wife, Shweta, and attempting to portray the incident as a suicide. A trial court convicted him in 2014, sentencing him to life imprisonment. He was also dismissed from the Army and lodged in Ferozepur jail.
Following his release on bail in 2019 and subsequent disappearance after the High Court upheld his sentence in 2022, his arrest now marks a significant development in a case that had remained unresolved for years despite ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies.
