Crime, Technology & the New Security Challenge

Rajender Singh, former ACP, Dwarka, served the Delhi Police for nearly 34 years before retiring in October 2020. During his long and distinguished career, he handled several challenging assignments and became associated with investigations into some of the capital’s most high-profile criminal cases. Singh served as ACP, Sub-Division Dwarka, where he focused on crime prevention, investigation and strengthening coordination between the police and local communities. He promoted community-oriented policing and initiatives aimed at making residential areas safer. His tenure was associated with the Prahari Scheme, under which security guards of residential societies worked in closer coordination with police beat staff. He also advocated the installation of around 400 CCTV cameras in Dwarka to strengthen surveillance and prevent street crime. His career included involvement in investigations into the 2012 Delhi gang-rape (Nirbhaya) case, the Soumya Vishwanathan murder, Jigisha Ghosh murder, Dhaula Kuan gang-rape case, Ponty Chadha murder case and the Sunanda Pushkar case, among other sensitive investigations. He also played a role in the arrest of notorious thief Bunty, popularly known as “Super Chor Bunty”, with substantial stolen property reportedly recovered during the investigation. The case later gained popular recognition through the film Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!. Singh’s professional achievements have been recognised through several prestigious police honours, including the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service. Government records list Rajender Singh Yadav, ACP, Dwarka, Delhi, among the recipients of the 2018 Independence Day police awards. He was also associated with the Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation for his contribution to the Nirbhaya case. A law graduate from Delhi University, Singh has also delivered lectures at police training institutions, management institutes and law universities. Even after retirement, he continues to contribute to law-enforcement education and public-awareness programmes, bringing decades of field experience to the next generation of professionals.

Dwarka City Conversation with Rajender Singh

Q. After 34 years in the police force, what does freedom truly mean to you?

Ans: Freedom means that every citizen should feel secure, respected and confident in approaching the law. If a person fears going to a police station to report a crime, our understanding of freedom remains incomplete. True freedom means dignity, equality, justice and equal protection of law for everyone. We must ensure that policing is citizen-oriented and that no person feels disadvantaged because of social or economic status.

Q. You were associated with the investigation of the Nirbhaya case. What did this case teach you about policing and justice?

Ans.The Nirbhaya case remains one of the most difficult and emotionally challenging investigations of my career. The brutality of the crime shocked the entire nation and generated tremendous public anger. For investigators, however, emotions could never replace evidence. Our responsibility was to establish the facts, identify the accused, collect credible evidence and ensure that every piece of evidence could withstand judicial scrutiny. The case demonstrated the importance of teamwork among police officers, forensic experts, medical professionals and prosecutors. It also highlighted the urgent need for greater attention to women's safety and social attitudes. The biggest lesson for me was that justice must be firm, fair and evidence-based. Public outrage may demand punishment, but a court ultimately requires legally admissible proof.

Q. What did the Bunty Chor case teach you about criminal behaviour and investigation?

Ans.: The Bunty Chor case was very different from many conventional investigations. He was known for his ability to repeatedly evade the police and commit burglaries in an unusual and calculated manner. What interested me was not simply the thefts, but the psychology behind his behaviour. He studied opportunities, security arrangements and the habits of his targets before acting. This showed me that successful investigation requires more than examining a crime scene. An investigator must understand the mind, habits and patterns of the offender. Bunty's case also demonstrated that criminals can sometimes develop extraordinary confidence in their abilities, believing they can outsmart the system. But every offender leaves behind patterns, mistakes and evidence. The investigator's job is to identify those links patiently and scientifically, rather than relying on assumptions or reputation.

Q. Soldiers protect our borders, while police officers protect citizens from within. How important is internal security?

Ans: Both the armed forces and police perform vital roles, although their responsibilities are different. Soldiers confront external threats, while police officers deal with internal threats while protecting citizens' legal rights. Police work is continuous and often invisible. They deal with crime, violence, social unrest and emergencies every day. Their sacrifices and contribution to maintaining peace deserve greater recognition.

Q. How has 34 years of policing changed your understanding of patriotism?

Ans:Patriotism is much more than hoisting the national flag or singing the national anthem. It means respecting the Constitution, obeying the law, protecting India's unity and integrity, voting responsibly, paying taxes honestly and respecting fellow citizens. A person can disagree with a government while remaining loyal to the nation. Patriotism is a responsibility that should be practised every day, not only on national festivals.

Q. What was the biggest lesson the police service taught you about human nature?

Ans: I learned that people have many different sides. Most people value honesty and kindness, but many hesitate to stand up for what is right when it involves personal risk. Individuals can also behave differently under pressure or when they become part of a crowd. This taught me not to judge people simply by their identity or reputation. An investigator must focus on actions, circumstances and evidence.

Q. Are criminals born or created, and can they reform?

Ans: In my experience, very few people may have inherent criminal tendencies. Most criminal behaviour develops through circumstances such as family environment, poverty, peer influence, addiction, social conditions and personal choices. I often say, “Genes may load the gun, environment may aim it, but individual choice ultimately pulls-or refuses to pull-the trigger.”

However, criminals can reform. I have seen offenders completely transform their lives and some former criminals later became valuable police informers. Society must combine accountability with opportunities for genuine rehabilitation and reintegration.

Q. What is the reality of investigating a serious crime compared with what films show?

Ans:Films often make investigation appear quick and dramatic. Real investigation is a disciplined search for truth. Officers may spend long hours examining documents, analysing call records, questioning witnesses, tracing financial transactions and coordinating with forensic experts.

The two most important weapons of an investigator are common sense and imagination. But solving a crime is only half the job. The evidence must also stand up in court. Every statement, document and forensic finding must be legally admissible and capable of surviving judicial scrutiny.

Q. What separates an ordinary police officer from an exceptional investigator?

Ans: An exceptional investigator neither implicates the innocent nor spares the guilty. He does not allow media pressure, public emotion or personal recognition to influence his professional judgment. He reconstructs the crime rather than merely observing the crime scene. His loyalty is to facts, evidence, law and the Constitution.

I had the responsibility of being associated with investigations into several sensitive cases, including the Nirbhaya 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case, the Dhaula Kuan gang rape case, the Soumya murder case and the Jigisha Ghosh murder case. Such cases demonstrate that public outrage may demand punishment, but courts require proof.

Q. What changes are still needed to make women safer in India?

Ans: Women's safety must include both physical and psychological security. Women should feel respected and safe at home, in educational institutions, workplaces, public spaces and online.

Policing alone cannot solve the problem. We need age-appropriate sex education, consent education, gender sensitivity, parental guidance and better communication between young people. Families and schools must help develop respect and responsibility from an early age. A safer society is created not simply through stricter laws, but through better attitudes and responsible behaviour.

Q. What role should families, schools and citizens play in preventing crime?

Ans: Crime prevention begins long before the police become involved. Character is formed at home and strengthened through education and social surroundings. Parents must teach children empathy, responsibility and respect for others. Schools should develop responsible citizens rather than focusing only on academic success.

Citizens must also report offences, support victims and speak against wrongdoing. My message is simple: Do not be a silent spectator. Speak against crime, report it and stand with justice.  A safe society cannot be created by the police alone.

Q. How has technology changed the nature of crime?

Ans: The battlefield has increasingly shifted from the street to cyberspace. Traditional crimes continue, but cyber fraud, identity theft, online financial scams, digital extortion and white-collar crime have expanded rapidly.

Earlier, a criminal generally needed to be physically present. Today, an offender thousands of kilometres away can target a person's bank account, identity or personal information through a smartphone and internet connection. This has made crime faster, more anonymous and capable of affecting thousands of people simultaneously.

Q. With AI, deepfakes and digital fraud increasing, how can ordinary citizens stay safe?

Ans: Every citizen is now the first line of cyber defence. Your mobile phone is effectively the key to your bank account, identity and personal life. Verify information before trusting it, think before clicking and never share passwords, OTPs or sensitive financial information.

People should be especially cautious when a message or call creates urgency, fear or pressure. Artificial intelligence and deepfakes will become increasingly convincing. Therefore, digital literacy and responsible online behaviour must become lifelong habits.

Q. What is the biggest internal security challenge India will face in the coming decade?

Ans: The digital threat will be one of the defining challenges. Banking, healthcare, education, governance, communication and critical infrastructure are increasingly dependent on digital networks. Future conflicts may not begin with bullets; they may begin with cyber attacks, malware, data theft, financial fraud, misinformation or psychological operations.

The police officer of tomorrow will need technological competence along with physical courage. At the same time, every citizen must understand that national security increasingly begins with individual digital responsibility.

Q. Police officers face violence, tragedy and immense pressure. How should their well-being be protected?

Ans: Police personnel gradually develop emotional resilience through exposure to difficult situations. However, stress is often intensified by long working hours, frequent transfers, continuous supervision, inadequate rest and hierarchical pressures.

A physically exhausted and emotionally drained officer cannot serve the public effectively. Duty must remain a priority, but the organisation must also provide humane working conditions, adequate rest, family time and dignity. Those who protect the rights of citizens also deserve protection of their own rights and well-being.

Q. What leadership lessons can young professionals and entrepreneurs learn from policing?

Ans: There is a difference between a supervisor and a leader. A good leader stands with the team during difficult times. My message to young professionals is: build trust before demanding performance; take responsibility before taking credit; protect your team before protecting your position; and demonstrate accountability before demanding it from others.

People may follow instructions because they have to, but they give their best when they trust their leader. Principles should guide decisions, particularly when convenience suggests otherwise.

Q. On Independence Day, what is your message to the youth of India?

Ans: My message is simple: never surrender your ability to think independently. Do not allow rumours, propaganda, social media trends or emotional narratives to decide what you believe. Question, verify and think logically. Develop scientific temper, curiosity and the courage to seek truth rather than blindly follow the crowd.

Love for the nation should not be limited to celebrating national festivals. It should be reflected in respecting the Constitution, obeying the law, protecting public property, respecting the rights of others and standing against injustice.

Q. During your tenure as ACP Dwarka, what were the biggest challenges you faced, and what did you learn from policing the area?

Ans. Dwarka was a rapidly developing sub-city with a diverse population, large residential societies, busy markets and increasing movement of people. As ACP, one of my key priorities was to maintain law and order while ensuring that citizens felt confident approaching the police. Crime prevention required regular patrolling, intelligence gathering, quick response and close coordination with residents and local stakeholders. I also realised that policing cannot succeed through enforcement alone. Community participation is equally important. Residents' associations, senior citizens, women and young people all have an important role in creating a safer neighbourhood. Dwarka taught me that an effective police officer must remain accessible, alert and responsive. The most satisfying part of the tenure was seeing citizens and police work together with mutual trust and a shared commitment to safety and security.