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This is an archive article published on October 6, 2018

Delhi teacher murder case: Clean chit for one family, but stigma remains

Hours after Ankit Sagar was shot in the head, his family had suggested that brothers of a woman he wanted to marry may have killed him because they were opposed to their inter-faith relationship.

At the coaching centre where Ankit Sagar was shot dead. (File)

The main gate of their house has been locked for days. The nine-member family has spent the past two days speaking to police officers, sharing their call data records and vouching for each other’s statements, watching their photographs splashed on television screens.

Hours after Ankit Sagar was shot in the head, his family had suggested that brothers of a woman he wanted to marry may have killed him because they were opposed to their inter-faith relationship. As the local MLA and right-wing outfits made contact with Ankit’s family, pressure mounted on police to make a breakthrough.

Police called the woman’s brother, who rushed to the DCP’s office with other members of the family. “We checked their phones and physically verified their alibis,” said a police officer. But despite a clean chit, those who know the family say their image has been unnecessarily tarnished. “Those boys (the woman’s brothers) grew up in my lap. Their father had to work hard to feed the family and now they have been branded killers. I don’t know how they will come back,” said R L Gandhi, a neighbour.

According to police, tension had gripped the family after photographs of the woman Ankit reportedly wanted to marry were leaked. “Ankit’s sister made a video of the woman’s photographs and put it online,” said a police officer. After the arrest, DCP Aslam Khan gave the family the keys to their house, telling them it was safe to go back. It remains to be seen when they do.

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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