Notorious Ayurvedic doctor-turned-serial killer Devendra Sharma, widely known as ‘Doctor Death’, was arrested by Delhi Police’s Crime Branch from a secluded ashram in Dausa, Rajasthan. The 67-year-old convict had been on the run since August 2023 after being released on parole from Tihar Jail. Disguised as a spiritual leader, he was living in the ashram using a fake identity and performing religious rituals.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam said Sharma was arrested following a long, covert operation. “We launched a search operation in several cities including Aligarh, Jaipur, Delhi, Agra and Prayagraj. His identity was finally established through forged documents,” said Gautam. The six-month-long search ended with Sharma’s capture at the ashram where he preached to followers.
Feeding Victims to Crocodiles: Gruesome Past Uncovered
Sharma had been serving a life sentence for a string of brutal murders committed between 2002 and 2004. According to the police, he lured taxi and truck drivers under the pretense of booking services, killed them, and disposed of their bodies in a crocodile-infested canal in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, to erase any evidence. He is believed to have murdered at least 50 individuals, with some estimates suggesting over 100 victims.
From Ayurvedic Clinic to Kidney Racket Kingpin
Before turning to serial killings, Sharma ran a kidney smuggling racket in the 1990s. A qualified BAMS practitioner, he opened a clinic in Rajasthan in 1984. Between 1995 and 2004, he operated a countrywide illegal kidney transplant network, conducting over 125 transplants with the help of brokers and complicit doctors. He would procure kidneys from poor victims—either by persuasion or coercion—and sell them to wealthy patients for high sums.
A Catalogue of Crimes
Sharma’s criminal record extends beyond murder. He has been implicated in truck and LPG cylinder thefts, kidnapping, and smuggling. Police sources revealed he would rob trucks, kill the drivers, and sell the cargo on the black market. “He used to charge up to seven lakh rupees for each murder or truck robbery,” said an officer. Sharma is currently facing charges in at least 27 cases across multiple categories of crime.
Repeat Offender in Disguise
This is not the first time Sharma has escaped after being granted parole. In January 2020, he was given a 20-day parole but absconded for seven months before being re-arrested in Delhi. The same pattern repeated in 2023. He once again vanished post-parole and attempted to blend into spiritual life, exploiting religious garb as a cover for his escape.
Back in Custody, Trials to Resume
Sharma has been brought back to Delhi, where legal proceedings in his pending cases will continue. Authorities are hopeful his re-arrest will lead to fresh insights into unresolved murders and trafficking operations linked to his past crimes.
