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Without police verification, Mohali double-murder accused worked as security head of Noida RWA

Gaurav Kumar, accused of killing journalist K J Singh in 2017, jumped bail in 2020; was hired by Sector 36 RWA in 2024

4 min readMohali, NoidaNov 9, 2025 04:53 AM IST

Mohali double-murder, Noida RWA, Noida Residents’ Welfare Association, Residents’ Welfare Association, delhi news, India news, Indian express, current affairs

Sector 36 in Noida where Gaurav Kumar worked as the RWA manager and (inset) Karan Jeet Singh

Gaurav Kumar, the prime accused in the murders of senior journalist Karan Jeet Singh and his mother in Mohali eight years ago, had been working for a Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) in Noida for more than a year.

Kumar, who had jumped bail in 2020 and was declared a proclaimed offender in 2022, was arrested by a team of the Mohali Police in Noida on Thursday.

The Sector 36 RWA had hired Kumar in May 2024 as a security guard without verifying his antecedents or checking with police, and had quickly promoted him to head of security and subsequently, manager of the RWA.

On Saturday evening, office-bearers of the Sector 36 RWA told The Indian Express that they had hired Kumar on “trust”.

Singh, known as KJ to his friends and professional peers, was a popular and widely respected journalist who had worked as an editor with The Indian Express in Chandigarh.

KJ and his mother Gurcharan Kaur were killed in their home on the night of September 22-23, 2017, allegedly by Kumar, who had had an argument with the journalist earlier that day.

“Initially hired as a security guard, he (Kumar) was later promoted to head of security and then to manager of the RWA. Shockingly, the RWA never conducted any background verification, and were unaware that their manager was a wanted double-murder accused,” Naveenpal Singh Lehal, DSP Special Crime Cell & Nodal Officer, PO Wing, under whose supervision the Mohali Police carried out the arrest, told The Indian Express in Mohali.

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Kumar was hired as a security guard in the beginning of May 2024 from one Pandey Security Agency, Sector 36 RWA president Anita told The Indian Express on Saturday. “After I became president of the RWA in October 2023, we began to think of revamping the security of the community, and to open all four gates of the RWA area,” she said.

According to Anita, the RWA usually consults other RWAs in the area on hiring a suitable security agency. “Pandeyji [who runs the Pandey Security Agency] had worked for us earlier, and so when he suggested Gaurav’s name, we hired him,” she said. Anita was unable to provide the full name of “Pandeyji”, or his contact details.

Asked why the RWA had not verified Gaurav Kumar’s background, the RWA president said the relationship with the security agency was based on “trust”. “The security agency had stressed that they had conducted a verification at their end, and that there was nothing to worry,” she said.

Anita and the RWA vice president Ashoo Sharma said they had learnt of Kumar’s alleged involvement in the murder eight years ago only after the Noida Police asked them to visit the police station.

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“He (Kumar) was handcuffed,” Sharma said. “I had spoken to Gaurav only some time ago about an issue of concern to the society.”

Mohali Police had registered a case against Kumar on September 23, 2017, under sections of the IPC including murder. A few days after KJ and his mother were killed, Kumar was caught driving the journalist’s stolen Ford Ikon car. According to details of the investigation, police recovered a mobile phone, an ATM card, a TV, a DVD player, and a set-top box from his possession.

RWA president Anita said a large number of residents of Sector 36 are elderly and retired individuals. Several residents told The Indian Express that Kumar’s active involvement in the RWA’s affairs led them to trust him. “He would ride around the neighbourhood on his bike, and took care of everything from pruning trees to the disposal of garbage,” a resident, who requested anonymity, said.

Asked about the police verification of security guards and domestic workers in the area, an official of the Sector 39 police station, the jurisdiction of which extends to Sector 36, said the FIR in the case had been registered in Mohali. “We conduct verification through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS),” the official said.

Neetika Jha

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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