In Seelampur murder case, Zikra Khan, a 25-year-old woman known locally as the ‘Lady Don,’ has been sent to 14 days of judicial custody by a Delhi court. Zikra, a prime suspect in the brutal stabbing of 17-year-old Hindu youth Kunal Singh on April 17, 2025, has vehemently denied any involvement in the crime, claiming she is being falsely implicated. Her cousin, 18-year-old Sahil Khan, identified as the main accused, has been remanded to two days of police custody for further questioning. The Delhi Police have arrested nine individuals, including two minors, in connection with the case, as they intensify efforts to uncover the motive and extent of Zikra’s role in the murder.
Zikra’s denial and court proceedings
On Monday, April 21, 2025, Zikra was produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class Anmol Nohria at Karkardooma Court. As she was escorted to the courtroom, the self-proclaimed ‘Lady Don’ addressed the media, asserting her innocence: “I did not kill Kunal. I am being unnecessarily implicated.”
Her legal counsel, Advocate Abdul Gaffar, along with Danish Khan, argued for the preservation of CCTV footage from Zikra’s landlord’s residence and a news channel interview where Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Pushpendra Kumar reportedly stated that Zikra’s role in the crime was unconfirmed. Despite these claims, the court granted 14 days of judicial custody for Zikra, allowing police to continue their investigation into the conspiracy behind Kunal’s murder.
Meanwhile, Sahil Khan, Zikra’s cousin and the alleged mastermind of the stabbing, was sent to two days of police remand. Police officials informed the court that Sahil was captured on CCTV footage stabbing Kunal and that his interrogation is crucial to recovering the murder weapon and apprehending other absconding suspects, including Dilshad, another cousin implicated in the attack.
The murder
The incident occurred on the evening of April 17, 2025, in the J Block of Seelampur, northeast Delhi, when Kunal Singh stepped out to buy milk to prepare tea for his ailing father, Rajdeep Singh. Around 7:30 PM, Kunal was ambushed near a Shiv-Parvati temple, just 50 meters from his home.
According to police sources, two assailants stabbed him multiple times while two others stood watch. Kunal managed to stagger into a nearby clinic, where a doctor attempted to stabilise him by applying cotton to his wounds. He was rushed to Jag Pravesh Chandra (JPC) Hospital in an e-rickshaw but was declared dead on arrival.
The brutal killing sparked outrage in Seelampur, with hundreds of locals and members of Hindu organisations, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), staging protests through April 18, demanding justice. Posters reading “Hindus are migrating” and “Please help, Yogi ji” appeared in the area, reflecting community fears, but were promptly removed by police. The protests escalated tensions, prompting the deployment of local police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) to maintain order. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta assured the public that justice would be served, stating, “I have spoken to the Police Commissioner regarding Kunal’s murder. He was attacked with knives and declared dead on arrival at Jai Prakash Hospital.”
Zikra’s criminal background
Zikra, a resident of Seelampur and mother of a two-year-old daughter, reportedly lives separately from her husband. Known for her notoriety in the neighborhood, she has a history of criminal activities, including a prior arrest under the Arms Act for posting a video on social media brandishing a pistol. With over 15,000 followers on Instagram, Zikra frequently shared content flaunting firearms, projecting a gang-related persona. She previously worked as a bouncer for Zoya, the wife of jailed gangster Hashim Baba, and lived with her before Zoya’s arrest in a drug trafficking case in February 2025. Following Zoya’s incarceration, Zikra allegedly attempted to form her own gang, recruiting 8-10 teenage boys, including minors, for criminal activities.
Police investigations point to a revenge motive linked to an incident in November 2024, when Zikra’s cousin Sahil was attacked by two individuals, Lala and Shambhu, who were associates of Kunal. Although Kunal was present during the assault, his name was not included in the FIR as he was a minor. Zikra and Sahil reportedly believed Kunal orchestrated the attack and planned his murder as retaliation. According to police, Zikra instructed her gang to conduct reconnaissance on Kunal’s movements, learning he was leaving GTB Hospital on April 17. She then mobilised Sahil and Dilshad, who executed the fatal stabbing. During interrogation, Zikra confessed to her involvement, citing the Diwali-time attack on Sahil as the trigger for the revenge plot.
Ongoing investigation
The Delhi Police have formed ten teams to track down remaining suspects, including Dilshad, and recover the murder weapon. Authorities revealed that several suspects attempted to flee to Nepal via Uttarakhand but were apprehended at the border. The arrest of nine individuals, including two minors, underscores the involvement of a broader criminal network allegedly groomed by Zikra. Police are also probing her ties to the Shoaib-Mastan gang, a local criminal outfit, and her ambitions to establish a drug-related enterprise with Hashim Baba’s network.
Kunal’s mother, Parveen Devi, has accused the police of complicity, alleging they allowed the perpetrators to escape initially and failed to act on prior threats against her son. “Zikra used to roam around with a pistol. An incident happened with her cousin Sahil, but my son was not involved. Yet they killed him. They brutally stabbed him multiple times,” she told reporters. Parveen also claimed the doctor who treated Kunal faced harassment, further fueling distrust in local authorities.
The murder has reignited political tensions, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) trading barbs over Delhi’s deteriorating law and order situation. BJP Delhi President Virendraa Sachdeva urged residents to maintain peace, noting that police have arrested suspects in recent cases. The incident has also drawn attention to northeast Delhi’s Yamuna Paar region, often called “Pataal Lok” due to its high crime rates and gang violence involving minors.
Calls for justice
The Seelampur murder has heightened fears among residents, with some Hindu families reportedly fleeing areas like Seelampur, Jafrabad, Brahmpuri, Gautampuri, and Chauhan Banger due to Zikra’s influence and gang activities. Locals claim her gang instilled fear through intimidation and open displays of weapons. Kunal’s family has demanded the death penalty for all involved, with Parveen Devi stating, “I want death for death.” Protests continue, with slogans like “Modiji madad karo, Yogi model chahiye” reflecting calls for stricter laws.
