By Sumesh Rajan | April 2, 2026
Fazilka, Punjab, INDIA: In a dramatic breakthrough, Punjab Police have arrested former Army captain Sandeep Tomar, who had been absconding for four years after being convicted of murdering his wife. His arrest on March 25 was made possible through an unlikely digital trail — an LPG cylinder booking.
Tomar, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014 for the murder of his wife Shweta Singh, had been out on bail since 2019 pending an appeal. However, after the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld his conviction in 2022, he failed to surrender and went into hiding.
According to police, Tomar managed to evade arrest by frequently changing locations, identities, and digital footprints. He moved across states, including Odisha and Karnataka, altering his Aadhaar details, using multiple SIM cards, and keeping bank and rental records under different names to avoid detection.
A Carefully Crafted Double Life
Investigators revealed that Tomar led a seemingly normal life while on the run. In 2022, he worked in an administrative role at a factory in Odisha. A year later, he relocated to Bengaluru, where he secured a high-paying job — reportedly earning ₹1.6 lakh per month — as a plant lead in a garment company associated with Raymond.
During his time in Bengaluru, he married a woman named Pinky Singh, who, police said, was completely unaware of his criminal past or fugitive status.
“He deliberately chose jobs in remote industrial areas, believing it would be easier to stay under the radar than in major urban centres,” said Aaswant Singh Dhaliwal, Superintendent of Police, who led the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The Case Background
The case dates back to 2013, when Tomar was posted with the 12 Bihar Regiment near the India-Pakistan border in Abohar, Punjab. Within months of his marriage, he allegedly poisoned his wife, initially attempting to pass off her death as suicide.
However, a detailed investigation exposed it as a planned murder, leading to his conviction and life sentence in 2014. After spending several years in prison, he was granted bail in 2019, but absconded after his appeal was dismissed in 2022.
The Breakthrough: Following the Money
Despite extensive efforts, investigators initially struggled to track Tomar due to his constantly changing identities and lack of direct links to family or known associates.
The breakthrough came after his father-in-law approached the court in 2024, prompting renewed pressure on police to apprehend the fugitive. A 15-member SIT was formed, comprising financial analysts and technical experts, who began analysing years of digital and financial data using systems like NATGRID.
“We traced multiple phone numbers and eventually linked a PAN card to a bank account. Most banks reported no activity, but one account showed a monthly salary credit of ₹1.6 lakh,” an officer said.
A crucial clue emerged when investigators examined the account statements and identified a ₹500 transaction made on February 20, 2026, for an LPG cylinder refill from Bharat Gas.
LPG Booking Exposes Location
Using the transaction ID, police coordinated with the gas agency to retrieve the customer and dealership details, which ultimately led them to a specific delivery address in Pandhurna district of Madhya Pradesh.
Acting on this information, Punjab Police, with assistance from Madhya Pradesh Police, conducted a raid and arrested Tomar from company quarters where he was residing.
Back in Custody
Tomar has since been brought back to Fazilka and produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.
Police officials described the arrest as a result of persistent investigation and the strategic use of financial and digital intelligence.
“This case shows that even the smallest digital footprint can lead to a breakthrough,” an officer said.
The arrest brings closure to a prolonged manhunt and highlights how modern investigative tools can unravel even the most carefully constructed fugitive identities.
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