Nagpur: In a significant breakthrough, Rajasthan police have apprehended Sohail Khan, a notorious criminal wanted in Nagpur’s high-profile New Year MD drug smuggling case, in connection with a recent murder in Jhalawar district.

Sohail Khan (29), who had been on the run since December 2024, was arrested from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh along with two accomplices—Faizal Khan (22), alias Hidayat, and Farukh (29)—for allegedly gunning down a 20-year-old videographer Shambhu Singh in Jhalawar’s Dug town on April 24, 2025.

The Jhalawar police, led by SP Richa Tomar, confirmed Khan’s involvement and revealed that he has 11 serious criminal cases pending against him, including arms and drug trafficking, and attempt to murder. He was also carrying a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to his arrest.

CCTV footage from the murder scene helped police trace and arrest the trio in Ujjain. The incident, sparked by a road rage dispute, escalated into mob violence, during which Raipur Police Station SHO Bannalal Jat suffered a critical head injury, and several other police personnel sustained minor injuries. Following the arrest, Khan’s residence in Chachorni village was demolished as part of the administration’s crackdown on criminals.

Sohail Khan’s name had earlier surfaced in Nagpur’s major drug bust on December 30, 2024, when the Crime Branch seized MD drugs worth Rs 55 lakh allegedly meant for New Year’s Eve parties at city clubs and hotels. While five suspects were nabbed in that case, Khan had managed to escape.

The arrested individuals in the Nagpur case included Sumit Ramesh Chintalwar, Pawan alias Mihir Rajendra Mishra, Palash Pramod Divekar, Sheikh Atiq alias Bhuru, and Manish Ranjit Kushwaha. Khan was the only absconding accused, making his recent arrest a crucial link in both the murder and drug trafficking investigations.

Authorities are now coordinating between Nagpur and Rajasthan police for further interrogation and legal proceedings.