Notorious gangster Vinay Tyagi, who was facing at least 60 criminal cases across multiple states, died on Saturday morning at AIIMS Rishikesh. His death came three days after he was shot at by two of his former associates while being transported to a court in Uttarakhand.
Attack During Traffic Snarl
The incident occurred on Wednesday, December 27, 2025, when Tyagi was being driven to the Laksar court by police personnel. The police vehicle got caught in a severe traffic jam, creating a vulnerable situation. It was during this standstill that two assailants, identified as Sunny Yadav and Ajay Sain, allegedly opened fire on Tyagi.
The gunfire left Tyagi with critical bullet injuries to his shoulder, hand, and chest. He also suffered significant internal organ damage. Despite being placed on ventilator support at the premier hospital, he could not survive his wounds and passed away.
Criminal Past and Family Allegations
Vinay Tyagi, who originally hailed from Muzaffarnagar and was raised in Meerut, had a long criminal record. Police records show he was named in approximately 60 cases registered in cities including Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Haridwar, Ghaziabad, Delhi, and Dehradun.
Months before his killing, Tyagi's family had publicly alleged that he was being framed and targeted. These claims were linked to a September case involving the theft of gold and silver worth Rs 4 lakh from an acquaintance's car. His family insisted the allegations were fabricated, stating Tyagi had actually recovered the loot and intended to hand it over to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). They had even warned of "a plan to kill Vinay while taking him to court" and pointed fingers at the possible involvement of the Uttarakhand Police.
Police Investigation and Fallout
Haridwar Rural Superintendent of Police Shekhar Chand Suyal provided a motive for the attack, stating, "Tyagi refused to share the loot, and the duo harboured revenge and planned to kill him." Both accused, Sunny Yadav and Ajay Sain, have been arrested. Police stated that, prima facie, they have not found links to a larger gang conspiracy behind the shooting.
In the aftermath of the security lapse, three police officers who were accompanying Tyagi during the transit have been suspended from service. The authorities have stated that after the completion of the post-mortem examination, Tyagi's body will be handed over to his family for last rites.
