Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Bhopal Police Release Poster, Raise Reward in Retired IAS Murder Case
Retired officer Rakesh Agarwal was murdered in Bhopal.
Police say his caretaker, Varun Kumar, is the main suspect, but he has not been found.
Police have shared a poster of Kumar and increased the reward for useful information.
The reward is now ₹50,000, up from ₹30,000.
Posters will be put up in Bhopal and five states.
Police say a scorpion tattoo on his throat could help people recognize him.
Investigators think he may be in Delhi or Gwalior, but they do not know for sure.
Agarwal’s phone was found with one of Kumar’s acquaintances in Agra, but this has not led police to Kumar.
Police have not arrested caretaker Varun Kumar, the prime suspect in retired IAS officer Rakesh Agarwal’s murder.
Authorities raised the reward for information leading to Kumar’s arrest from ₹30,000 to ₹50,000 and released his poster.
Posters are planned for Bhopal and five states, including police stations, transport hubs and public places.
Police say a scorpion tattoo on Kumar’s throat may help people recognize him; they have not confirmed his location.
Agarwal’s mobile phone was recovered in Agra from an acquaintance of Kumar, but investigators have not located the suspect.
- Who
- Retired IAS officer Rakesh Agarwal was murdered; caretaker Varun Kumar is the prime suspect.
- What
- Police released a suspect poster and raised the reward for information leading to Kumar’s arrest to ₹50,000.
- When
- The announcement came about a week after Agarwal’s murder; the article says the murder occurred the previous Wednesday.
- Where
- The murder was in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Police plan to display posters in Bhopal and five states.
- Why
- Police are seeking information from the public to help find and arrest Kumar.
Police account
Investigation status
Suspect identification and search
Police account
Police identify caretaker Varun Kumar as the prime suspect and say his throat tattoo could help the public recognize him.
Investigation status
Kumar has not been arrested, his whereabouts remain unconfirmed, and police have not obtained a concrete clue locating him.
Recovered mobile phone
Police account
Police recovered Agarwal’s phone from one of Kumar’s acquaintances in Agra.
Investigation status
The recovery has not helped investigators locate Kumar.
- Victim
- Rakesh Agarwal, a retired IAS officer
- Prime suspect
- Varun Kumar, described as Agarwal’s caretaker
- Reward
- Raised from ₹30,000 to ₹50,000 for information leading to arrest
- Identifying clue
- A scorpion tattoo on the suspect’s throat
- Possible locations
- Police sources said Kumar could be in Delhi or Gwalior; this was not confirmed
- Phone recovery
- Agarwal’s mobile phone was recovered in Agra from an acquaintance of Kumar
- Search effort
- Posters are planned for Bhopal and five states